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Jon Huntsman drops out of Republican presidential race Jon Huntsman drops out of Republican presidential race
(40 minutes later)
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has ended his presidential campaign, but endorsed the candidacy of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has ended his presidential campaign, but endorsed the candidacy of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Speaking in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, he bemoaned the "negative and personal attacks" shaping the race.Speaking in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, he bemoaned the "negative and personal attacks" shaping the race.
Mr Huntsman received just 17% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary despite campaigning extensively there.Mr Huntsman received just 17% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary despite campaigning extensively there.
He has struggled to build momentum in South Carolina, where the conservative vote is traditionally strong.He has struggled to build momentum in South Carolina, where the conservative vote is traditionally strong.
The Palmetto State goes to the polls on Saturday to pick a candidate for the Republican nomination.The Palmetto State goes to the polls on Saturday to pick a candidate for the Republican nomination.
The Huntsman campaign has had difficulty gaining traction nationally, attracting about 1% to 2% in most opinion polls.The Huntsman campaign has had difficulty gaining traction nationally, attracting about 1% to 2% in most opinion polls.
'Toxic discourse''Toxic discourse'
As he announced his withdrawal from the race, Mr Huntsman, who pitched himself at his campaign launch as a "civil" candidate who would not play dirty, bemoaned the state of the Republican race. As he announced his withdrawal from the race, Mr Huntsman, who pitched himself at his campaign launch as a "civil" candidate who would not play dirty, bemoaned the state of the Republican contest.
"This race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative and personal attacks," he said, calling on the Republican Party to unite behind a single candidate."This race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative and personal attacks," he said, calling on the Republican Party to unite behind a single candidate.
"Divisiveness is corrosive," he added, saying that the "the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause"."Divisiveness is corrosive," he added, saying that the "the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause".
Mr Huntsman threw his support behind Mr Romney, calling him the candidate most likely to defeat US President Barack Obama in November's presidential elections. Mr Huntsman, 51, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and served as US President Barack Obama's first ambassador to China.
Ackowledging differences between him and Mr Romney - who Mr Huntsman sharply criticised in recent weeks - he said he would support the former Masachussetts governor nevertheless. In the early 1990s he became the youngest head of a US diplomatic mission for a century when he was appointed ambassador in Singapore.
Mr Huntsman's withdrawal from the race came the morning after he received an endorsement from The State, the largest newspaper in South Carolina.
They called Mr Huntsman and Mr Romney the "two sensible, experienced grown-ups in the race'', but said the former ambassador was "more principled" and offered "a significantly more important message''.
Chasing pack
Mr Huntsman threw his support behind Mr Romney, calling him the candidate most likely to defeat President Obama in November's presidential elections.
Acknowledging differences between him and Mr Romney - who Mr Huntsman sharply criticised in recent weeks - he said he would support the former Massachusetts governor nevertheless.
Differences within the Republican Party were less important, Mr Huntsman said, than what he termed a grave crisis facing the US.Differences within the Republican Party were less important, Mr Huntsman said, than what he termed a grave crisis facing the US.
Mr Romney won nearly 40% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and won the Iowa caucuses with a narrow lead of eight votes.
Mr Huntsman's exit from the race leaves Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich as the three main candidates chasing Mr Romney's lead.
South Carolina, a staunchly Republican state, has a history of backing the eventual nominee in its primary.