Yep, assuming "safe bet" means they are indifferent about winning the presidency, as long as most of them retain their congressional seats of power.
They'd rather lose with Romney than win with Gingrich. They hold a grudge, they HATE the TEA Party with a passion. They will not go down without a fight, and in this battle, the media is firmly in their camp.
My thought is that the Republican elite think Romney could win because he will come off as being more palatable for the Independents, that there will be harsher contrast between Obama and Newt, and the Independents will still be unable to think for themselves given a stark choice and media bias.