Mitt Romney helped McCain seal the nomination by endorsing him and by asking his national convention delegates to swing behind him. The two were very icy towards one another during the primary but Romney spoke of McCain postively, “Even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of the man was apparent,” he said, standing alongside his one-time rival at his now-defunct campaign’s headquarters. “This is a man capable of leading our country at a dangerous hour.”

In early primaries and caucuses, Romney collected 280 delegates. The number is enough to move McCain close to the total of 1,191 needed to clinch the nomination a full nine months before the November general election. Officials said the former Massachusetts governor made his decision to back McCain earlier in the day, citing a desire to help the Arizona senator wrap up the nomination before too much more time passed and while Democrats still did not have a nominee.

After Romney’s announcement, McCain picked up endorsements from eight members of the Republican National Committee who will attend the convention and can support whomever they choose. That gave McCain 851 delegates, to 242 for Huckabee. It left Romney with 277 delegates.

Now Huckabee is under more pressure to retire his candidacy as the race has been all but decided.