Newt Gingrich: We’re staying in, that’s exactly why we’re downsizing

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich reported to WTOP on Wednesday that he has no intention of dropping out of the Republican presidential primary race, less than a day after he announced he was slashing a third of his campaign staff and asking his campaign manager to resign. On Wednesday morning, Gingrich told WTOP’s Mike Moss and Bruce Alan, “We’re staying in, that’s exactly why we’re downsizing. We’re doing the appropriate things to be able to campaign.”

The former House Speaker compared his campaign to a sports team leading from behind at the end by the season, and stood by his recurring claim that he will continue the race until an opponent reaches the needed 1,144 delegates to win the GOP nomination. Gingrich said, “None of you guys would call a football team or a basketball team and say, ‘Why don’t you drop out?’ You’d say, ‘There’s a season. Let’s play the season.’” Although Gingrich faces an uphill battle, falling behind Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum, he refuses to hand over the nomination. “Romney has to earn this, we’re not going to give it to him. Until Mitt Romney has 1,144 locked down solidly, I owe it to the people who have helped me in the last year to represent their views and their values.” Gingrich said.