Huckabee drops out

Saying, "We kept the faith," Mike Huckabee has bowed to political reality.

The former Arkansas governor dropped out of the Republican presidential race after John McCain clinched the nomination.

During a rally in Irving, Texas, Huckabee quipped: "It's time for us to hit the reset button."

Huckabee won the leadoff Iowa caucuses, making him a sudden but short-lived sensation, and then seven other states. Meantime, McCain piled up big victories on his way to winning the prize tonight.

The writing was on the wall for weeks, but Huckabee held on until McCain secured the necessary delegates.

Huckabee rarely raised a negative word during the campaign about McCain, a man he clearly likes, and he says he called him tonight to congratulate McCain.

Huckabee said he extended his --quote-- "commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country."

Huckabee vowed: "We aren't going away completely."