California Rep. Duncan Hunter endorsed Mike Huckabee on Wednesday, four days after dropping his own presidential bid.

"I got to know Governor Huckabee well on the campaign trail," said Hunter. "Of the remaining candidates I feel that he is strongly committed to strengthening national defense, constructing the border fence and meeting the challenge of China’s emergence as a military superpower that is taking large portions of America’s industrial base," he said in a statement.

Huckabee said that the other quality compelling his endorsement is that Huckabee "is a man of outstanding character and integrity. I saw that character over the last year of campaigning and was greatly impressed. The other Republican candidates have many strengths and I wish them all well. My personal choice is Mike Huckabee."

Aides to Huckabee said Hunter and the former Arkansas governor grew close and bonded when both were also-ran candidates. But then Huckabee went on his boom.

Asked for a response to the endorsement, press secretary Alice Stewart said Huckabee "is extremely excited."