After McCain’s sweep of tonight’s four primaries, his role as the Republican presidential nominee is finally official. His remaining competitor Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race tonight, after McCain claimed the 1,191 necessary delegates to clinch the nomination.

“It’s now important that we turn our attention not to what could have been or what we wanted to have been but now what must be, and that is a united party,” [Huckabee] said.

As the battle for the Democratic nomination increasing looks like it’s continue into the unforeseeable future, McCain’s large head start as the confirmed party nominee will surely be a big advantage to him in preparing and fundraising for this fall general election.

Republican percentages for the night after the jump.

Rhode Island
McCain: 65%
Huckabee: 22%

Texas
McCain: 51%
Huckabee: 38%

Ohio
McCain: 60%
Huckabee: 31%

Vermont
McCain: 72%
Huckabee: 14%

McCain Wins GOP Nomination – [CNN]