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Romney suspends White House bid Romney suspends White House bid
(10 minutes later)
Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is preparing to withdraw from the race for the Republican party nomination for the US presidency. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has suspended his campaign for the Republican party nomination for the US presidency.
Mr Romney spent millions of dollars of his own money on the campaign, but fell well behind frontrunner Senator John McCain after Super Tuesday's primaries.Mr Romney spent millions of dollars of his own money on the campaign, but fell well behind frontrunner Senator John McCain after Super Tuesday's primaries.
His withdrawal leaves Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul as the only remaining challengers to Senator McCain. Correspondents say his exit means Senator McCain has made it as Republican candidate.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are neck-and-neck in the Democrat race.Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are neck-and-neck in the Democrat race.
A spokesman for Senator McCain refused to comment on his rival's withdrawal.A spokesman for Senator McCain refused to comment on his rival's withdrawal.
Mr Romney plans to announce the end of his bid at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Mr Romney announced the suspension at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or [Barack] Obama would win," Mr Romney planned to say at the conference, AP reported. "If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or [Barack] Obama to win," Mr Romney said at the conference.
A successful businessman, he had planned to be the first US president from the Mormon religion.
But he failed to translate leads in opinion polls into victories in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
In recent weeks, conservatives in the party rallied behind him as a candidate who they hoped could stop Senator McCain.
Officially Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul are still in the race, but they stand no realistic chance of victory.