"I want to thank all of you here and all the Republicans, independents and independent-thinking Democrats, in all parts of the country, who supported our campaign for the nomination and have brought us across the finish line first, an accomplishment that once seemed to more than a few doubters unlikely."

"I extended to him not only my congratulations, but my commitment to him and to the party to do everything possible to unite our party, but more importantly to unite our country, so that we can be the best nation we can be – not for ourselves, but for the future generations to whom we owe everything, just as we owe previous generations all that they have done for us," Huckabee said.

"Now we begin the most important part of our campaign: to make a respectful, determined and convincing case to the American people that our campaign and my election as president, given the alternatives presented by our friends in the other party, are in the best interests of the country we love. ... Our campaign must be, and will be, more than another tired debate of false promises, empty sound bites or useless arguments from the past that address not a single American's concerns for their family's security."