Romney quits U.S. presidential race

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

In an appearance before a conference of conservative activists, Romney said he was ending his bitter nominating duel with McCain to allow Republicans to focus on a November election showdown with the eventual Democratic nominee, either Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.

McCain, who had built an almost insurmountable lead in delegates to the party's nominating convention, pleaded for party unity during an appearance at the same conference a few hours later.

"And I am acutely aware that I cannot succeed in that endeavour, nor can our party prevail over the challenge we will face from either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama, without the support of dedicated conservatives," he said.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won five states on Tuesday, remains in the race but will have an almost impossible task overcoming McCain, who has rolled up more than 700 of the 1,081 delegates needed to win the nomination.

McCain's name was booed by some members of the audience when Romney mentioned him, but he drew mostly cheers when he appeared before the crowd, many of them McCain supporters brought in by the campaign.

He drew boos, however, when he brought up his support during last year's Senate debate for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. McCain has since said border security must come first.

"I am proud to be a conservative," he said.

Some attendees said they were disappointed Romney was leaving, calling him the only conservative candidate in the race.

Romney said he was pulling out of the race in order to let Republicans prepare for a general election battle against the two remaining Democrats, both whom have campaigned to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Romney, 61, had vowed to fight on after Super Tuesday, but the abrupt reversal followed a meeting with advisers on Wednesday. Romney, a former venture capitalist, has spent more than $35 million (18 million pounds) out of his own pocket to fund his campaign.

Many Republicans are eager for an end to the nominating contest between McCain, Romney and Huckabee in order to begin what is expected to be a difficult fight against either Clinton or Obama.

Romney said he did not want to extend a fight that could possibly last until Republicans hold their nominating convention in late summer.

Romney did not endorse McCain in his speech. The two have engaged in a bitter cross-fire in recent weeks over who is the real conservative.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Andy Sullivan, Deborah Charles; Editing by Patricia Wilson and David Wiessler)