Update: Moments after posting this article. GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has announced he is suspending his bid for president, according to multiple news outlets.

Previous coverage:

If you need another sign that the race for the GOP nomination for president is over, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has made an endorsement.

Branstad endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney a few moments ago.

Branstad had steadfastly refused to endorse a candidate throughout the Iowa Caucus season and ever since, even as Romney pulled further and further ahead in the delegate count.

If you'll recall, Romney won, then lost the Iowa Caucus. In reality, the double-digit vote divide between Romney and Rick Santorum, who was declared winner, was so narrow and there was enough confusion in the count that state GOP officials initially refused to declare a winner and said we may never truly know who won.

Des Moines Register columnist Kathy Obradovich has been Tweeting the announcement. You can follow Obradovich on Twitter at Twitter.com/kobradovich.

According to Obradovich, Branstad said he "withheld his endorsement until now because he wants to focus on uniting the GOP," and that "The Iowa caucuses did its job .. now it’s time to coalesce around one candidate."

Check out earlier Iowa Patch coverage of the Caucuses:

• Iowa GOP Finally Declares Santorum Caucus Winner

• UPDATE: Santorum Finishes on Top, But Some Want Changes to Protect First-in-the-Nation Iowa Caucus

• Key Iowa Republican Calls for GOP Head to Step Down, Others 'Embarrassed' by GOP Handling of Iowa Caucus

• With Spotlight on GOP, Iowa Dems Waiting to Take the Field

• Iowa's Branstad Praises Paul, But Slams Door on Endorsement