With Rick Santorum bowing out of the presidential race, Newt Gingrich is attempting to rally Republicans behind his bid, calling himself the last conservative standing.

Gingrich praised Santorum after the former U.S. senator announced on Tuesday that he was exiting the race.

Rick has waged a remarkable campaign, Gingrich said. His success is a testament to his tenacity and the power of conservative principles.

Who's the bigger hypocrite?

Led by a Jefferson County Republican who reeled in more than $108,000, newcomers posted some of the top fundraising totals in legislative races during the first three months of 2012.

Monticello businessman Halsey Beshears reported raising $108,268, as he tries to win a largely rural House district that includes all or parts of 10 North Florida counties, according to records posted Tuesday on the state Division of Elections website.

WASHINGTON -- All it takes is one little twit. Or a tweet, as the case may be -- not that the two are mutually exclusive.

Lawyers for the Florida State Conference of the NAACP branches want the states top court to again declare unconstitutional the Senates effort to create the once-a-decade reapportionment lines.

A recommendation by state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater that Florida's public universities "prioritize" their programs brought an energetic response Tuesday, but not necessarily wholehearted agreement.

Speaking to students at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton on Monday, Atwater said the Legislature's $300 million cut in the state's higher education budget will require more coordination among the 11 campuses.

Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. president.

At a news conference in Gettysburg, Pa., on Tuesday, the unapologetic social and fiscal conservative said he was able to build as strong a campaign as he did by interpreting the voice of the people.

"We were touching hearts, we were raising issues, Santorum said.

Santorum said the decision was made over the weekend.

The Texas underdog looking to derail Mitt Romneys bid for the Republican presidential nomination turned to his home state on Tuesday attempting to find new life for his campaign.

With 155 delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa, Texas ranks as the second largest prize on the electoral map -- luring Ron Paul, who has represented parts of the Lone Star State in Congress for decades, back home this week, even though it doesn't hold its primary until May 29.