Boris Johnson: U.K.'s next prime minister?

LONDON — Boris Johnson, the flamboyant former mayor of London, is not known for being modest or soft-spoken. But that is how he came across Friday after his drive for a British exit from the European Union won a surprise victory — and immediately made him a top candidate to replace David Cameron as prime minister.

Johnson paid tribute to Cameron, who led the campaign to remain in the EU and who announced he would resign after coming out on the losing end of Thursday's historic referendum.

At a news conference with other “leave” campaign leaders, Johnson did not mention the possibility of replacing Cameron as leader of the ruling Conservative Party and prime minister.

“I think that the electorate have searched in their hearts and answered as honestly as they can,” Johnson said.

He saluted Cameron's "bravery" in calling for Thursday's referendum even though the prime minister campaigned for the country to remain in the 28-member bloc.

“This does not mean the United Kingdom will be any way less united (or) any less European,” Johnson said. “We cannot turn our backs on Europe, we are part of Europe.”

Johnson’s blond mop of hair, quick sense of humor and outlandish ways endeared him to many Britons during his eight-year tenure as mayor of London.

But beneath the bluster lies a shrewd politician whose campaign to break with a “failing, complacent and remote” EU bureaucracy secured a momentous victory.

When the New York-born Johnson announced in 2015 that he planned to run for election as a member of Parliament, Cameron said: "I want my star players on the pitch.”

That was before the two Conservative Party members found themselves on opposite sides of the referendum.

Johnson is indeed a star player — he triumphed to take the parliamentary seat in west London in May 2015. After leaving the mayor's office last month, Johnson — nicknamed Bojo by the media and public — positioned himself as a leading voice in the campaign to leave the EU.

"Given the outcome of the referendum it is now certain that whoever replaces Prime Minister David Cameron will be a prominent Eurosceptic who has nailed their colours to the Brexit mast," said Matthew Goodwin, a professor of politics and international relations at the University of Kent. "Boris Johnson is clearly popular among the rank-and-file conservative base but it would be too premature to discount other contenders, notably Michael Gove".

In an interview with The Telegraph published Thursday, Johnson said the referendum was more important to him than his future as a politician.

“Frankly, if this is the end of my political career … I’ve done eight years as mayor of London, I enjoyed it hugely, it was a massive privilege. Fine by me,” he said.

Johnson said last week in response to a fisherman who made the suggestion that he would not end up as prime minister.

Still, bookmakers favor Johnson for the post. Other contenders include Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who has told the Telegraph he doesn't want the role, as well as Finance Minister George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.