I disagree with Senator McCain on a number of issues, as you know. But I agree with him on doing whatever it takes to be successful in Iraq, on finding and executing Osama bin Laden, and on eliminating Al Qaeda and terror. 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 Obama would win. And 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 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.

That shows class, and just raised my opinion of Romney a notch or two. If he evaluates what happened, and realizes how he failed politically, he could spend the next four years getting ready for a real run, and showing us that he really is the guy he claims to be now.

Not everybody makes President on their first try.