(CNN) -- Aside from winning his home state of Georgia and the bordering state of South Carolina, Newt Gingrich has had a lackluster performance in the Republican race. It is about time for Gingrich to step out of the race and endorse Rick Santorum. On Super Tuesday, Gingrich was fourth behind Ron Paul, who almost everyone acknowledges has no chance to win the nomination, in no fewer than four states. He finished respectably in Oklahoma (27%) and Tennessee (23%), but still badly trailed Santorum -- and even Mitt Romney -- in these conservative states where he would have had the best chance to garner support. Since then, Santorum swept the Kansas caucuses. Gingrich is now making a strong effort in two other Deep South states, Alabama and Mississippi, and his staffers are intimating that if he does not do well there he will leave the race.
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Stephen Krason: Newt Gingrich has had a lackluster performance in the GOP race
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Krason: Gingrich should step out of the race and endorse Rick Santorum
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He says Mitt Romney can't seem to broaden his support among Republicans
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Krason: Santorum is the only candidate who can take GOP nomination from Romney
Let's see whether Republican voters really want a moderate of @placeholder's stripe to lead them.