Huckabee ends White House bid after winning barely two percent in Iowa caucuses

Republican White House hopeful Mike Huckabee has suspended his campaign after winning barely two percent in the Iowa caucuses that launched the 2016 presidential race.

"I am officially suspending my campaign. Thank you for all your loyal support," the former governor of Arkansas tweeted as polling drew to a close in the heartland state.

With 90 percent of Republican precincts reporting in Iowa, Huckabee had just 1.8 percent of votes, far behind the frontrunning trio of Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, who between them split three-quarters of the vote.

In the Democratic race, Martin O'Malley was set to suspend his campaign after garnering less than one percent in Iowa, sources in his camp said.

The former Maryland governor was expected to make a formal announcement in Des Moines, Iowa, the sources said.

O'Malley garnered just 0.6 percent with 89 percent of precincts reporting, his campaign eclipsed by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, who were running neck-and-neck.