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Rick Santorum suspends presidential campaign

BREAKING — Former Pennsylvania Sen.

BREAKING — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum suspended his campaign today, clearing Mitt Romney’s path to the Republican presidential nomination.

Santorum’s decision to suspend his campaign effectively stifles the opposition to Romney from within the GOP; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Rep. Ron Paul remain active candidates, though neither of them have a plausible path to winning the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

The decision comes two weeks before the Pennsylvania presidential primary. Santorum had faced the prospect of an embarrassing loss to Romney that threatened to short-circuit any of his future political aspirations, either statewide or nationally.

Ed will have full analysis and reaction tonight on The Ed Show at 8pET on msnbc!