WASHINGTON — The Associated Press scoops on a bombshell announcement:

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s campaign manager, senior strategists and key aides in early delegate-selection states all resigned on Thursday, a mass exodus that leaves his hopes of winning the Republican nomination in tatters.

Rick Tyler, Gingrich’s spokesman, said he, campaign manager Rob Johnson and senior strategists had resigned, along with aides in the early primary and caucus states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Surely more to come on this in the coming hours and days, but it’s worth noting that many of the former House Speaker’s now-free agent aides aides also have strong ties to Rick Perry, the Texas governor who is now reportedly considering a late entrance into the Republican presidential field.

Meanwhile, what of Gingrich, who is pledging currently to soldier on? He’s scheduled at the first GOP debate with basically the full field on Monday, but one can’t run a presidential campaign by oneself.