McCain Clinches; Huckabee Out

Front-runner racks up four easy wins to secure the GOP nomination

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 4, 2008 9:02 PM CST

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McCain Clinches; Huckabee Out — Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., reacts with his wife Cindy as they arrive on stage at his primary election watch party in Dallas, Texas Tuesday, March 4, 2008. McCain won the Republican presidential nomination. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) (Associated Press)

John McCain officially clinched the Republican nomination for president tonight, the Washington Post reports. Mike Huckabee conceded after McCain racked up easy wins in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island to surpass the necessary number of delegates—1,191. He is expected to go to the White House tomorrow to collect an endorsement from President Bush.

"I have never believed I was destined be president," said McCain, whose campaign was all but dead last summer. "I don't believe anyone is pre-destined to lead America. But I do believe we are born with responsibilities to the country that has protected our God-given rights." Huckabee congratulated McCain, calling him an "honorable man" and pledging to help unite the party behind him. (More Ohio stories.)

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