(CNN) -- Mitt Romney suspended his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday, saying if he continued it would "forestall the launch of a national campaign and be making it easier for Senator 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. This is not an easy decision. I hate to lose," the former Massachusetts governor said. "If this were only about me, I'd go on. But it's never been only about me. I entered this race because I love America, and because I love America, in this time of war I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country."
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Romney: "I cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror"
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GOP hopeful won 286 delegates through the Super Tuesday contests
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Primaries are a killing field, says CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider
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John McCain locks in front-runner position
The crowd booed when Romney mentioned @placeholder, saying, "I disagree with Sen. McCain on a number of issues."
According to a senior McCain adviser, McCain called @placeholder and told him he "admired his speech today and that he was a tough competitor."