Ahead of next week’s Republican convention, Newt Gingrich on Tuesday officially released the delegates he won during the primary, giving them the ability to vote for Mitt Romney, the presumptive nominee.

“It is time now for all Republicans to come together in common purpose to defeat President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden,” Mr. Gingrich said in a letter to his delegates.

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According to The GreenPapers.com’s estimate, Mr. Gingrich won 143 delegates in the primaries, which was the third-most of anyone in the race.

They are no longer bound to Mr. Gingrich and can choose whom to vote for, but Mr. Gingrich urged them to join him in “strongly supporting the Romney-Ryan ticket.”