Mitt Romney, by pauladamsmith via Flickr

Mitt Romney, a Republican Governor from a Democratic state, quit the presidential race today following huge gains made by John McCain on Super Tuesday.

Romney received 175 delegates on Tuesday, compared with at least 504 for McCain and 141 for Huckabee.

In his goodbye speech, made today at the at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Romney sought to end the Democratic march toward the presidency, which, he said, could kill us all.

[I don't want to] forestall the launch of a national campaign and be making it easier for Sen. Clinton or Obama to win. In this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror. [CNN]

Thank you, Mitt Romney, for leaving the race. It's not because people didn't vote for you as they did McCain. It's not because you have no chance of winning or don't want to continually dip into your personal fortune. No, you did it to ensure that I and my unborn children will not have to grow up in a world where we are constantly racked by economic woes, global terrorism, poor healthcare and crumbling public schools - problems we thankfully don't have to deal with now.

Rest assured, Romney's decision to quite was not made flippantly:

This is not an easy decision for me. I hate to lose. My family, my friends and our supporters... many of you right here in this room... have given a great deal to get me where I have a shot at becoming president. If this were only about me, I would go on. But I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, I feel I must now stand aside, for our party and for our country. [Politico]

Thank you, Mitt Romney.

While McCain carried California, Romney took a respectable amount of votes. In the state, Romney took 34% to McCain's 42% and, in L.A. County, 31% backed Romney, while 45% sided with McCain.

But, because of the winner take all Republican system this primary season, in which second place is as good as last, Romney took none of the 173 delegates the state offered.

In California, Romney took four counties:

• District 21 (Fresno and Tulare counties);
  
• District 42 (Chino, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, La Habra, Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda);
  
• District 49 (Northern San Diego, Riverside);
  
• District 52 (Imperial and San Diego counties)

Los Angeles County:

• District 30 (Beverly Hills, Malibu, West Hollywood Westwood, etc.): McCain 46% - Romney 37%
  
• District 31 (Echo Park, Garvanza, Silverlake, parts of Hollywood): McCain 47% - Romney 23%
  
• District 33 (Culver City, Hollywood, Mid-Wilshire, Venice): McCain 43% - Romney 33%

He was mostly competitive in the other 49 state districts, but Republicans thumbed their tusks at proportional representation and Romney was left out of the California party. His decision to leave now effectively cedes the nomination to McCain.

Previously: "Will Michigan Make or Break Mitt?"