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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, saying that "negative and personal attacks" have marred the Republican race. | Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has ended his presidential campaign, saying that "negative and personal attacks" have marred the Republican race. |
| Speaking in South Carolina, Mr Huntsman endorsed the candidacy of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. | Speaking in South Carolina, Mr Huntsman endorsed the candidacy of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. |
| 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 had difficulty gaining traction nationally, attracting about 1% to 2% in most opinion polls. | The Huntsman campaign 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 contest. | 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, 51, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and served as US President Barack Obama's first ambassador to China. | Mr Huntsman, 51, is a fluent Mandarin speaker and served as US President Barack Obama's first ambassador to China. |
| In the early 1990s he became the youngest head of a US diplomatic mission for a century when he was appointed ambassador in Singapore. | 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. | 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''. | 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 | 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. | 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 - whom Mr Huntsman sharply criticised in recent weeks - he said he would nevertheless support the former Massachusetts governor. | |
| 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. |
| In the wake of Mr Huntsman's endorsement, Mr Romney said: "I salute Jon Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye. Jon ran a spirited campaign based on unity not division, and love of country. I appreciate his friendship and support." | In the wake of Mr Huntsman's endorsement, Mr Romney said: "I salute Jon Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye. Jon ran a spirited campaign based on unity not division, and love of country. I appreciate his friendship and support." |
| But Mr Santorum dismissed the endorsement, saying it came as no surprise. "Moderates are backing moderates," he said. "I anticipated that actually sooner than today." | But Mr Santorum dismissed the endorsement, saying it came as no surprise. "Moderates are backing moderates," he said. "I anticipated that actually sooner than today." |
| 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 Romney won nearly 40% of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and won the Iowa caucuses with a narrow lead of eight votes. |
| Split conservative vote | Split conservative vote |
| Mr Huntsman's exit from the race leaves five candidates remaining: Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich as the three main candidates chasing Mr Romney's lead, and Rick Perry trailing in the polls. | Mr Huntsman's exit from the race leaves five candidates remaining: Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich as the three main candidates chasing Mr Romney's lead, and Rick Perry trailing in the polls. |
| The candidates were meeting voters in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach, with Mr Paul returning to the campaign trail after a four-day break, ahead of a national debate to be hosted by Fox News. | The candidates were meeting voters in South Carolina's Myrtle Beach, with Mr Paul returning to the campaign trail after a four-day break, ahead of a national debate to be hosted by Fox News. |
| Polls show that South Carolina's conservative vote has not yet settled on one particular candidate. | Polls show that South Carolina's conservative vote has not yet settled on one particular candidate. |
| "I think the only way that a Massachusetts moderate can get through South Carolina is if the vote is split," Mr Gingrich said on Sunday. | "I think the only way that a Massachusetts moderate can get through South Carolina is if the vote is split," Mr Gingrich said on Sunday. |
| A group of five faith leaders endorsed Mr Gingrich while emphasising that support was still split across the influential voting bloc. | A group of five faith leaders endorsed Mr Gingrich while emphasising that support was still split across the influential voting bloc. |
| Mr Santorum also worked through the weekend to encourage evangelical Christian voters to choose his candidacy, telling reporters on Monday: "I think it's important that we eventually consolidate this race." | Mr Santorum also worked through the weekend to encourage evangelical Christian voters to choose his candidacy, telling reporters on Monday: "I think it's important that we eventually consolidate this race." |
| However, correspondents say momentum in the Romney campaign is building and an Insider Advantage opinion poll released on Monday shows the former businessman maintaining a significant lead over the rest of the field. | However, correspondents say momentum in the Romney campaign is building and an Insider Advantage opinion poll released on Monday shows the former businessman maintaining a significant lead over the rest of the field. |
| Mr Gingrich, Mr Santorum and Mr Perry have all suggested that Mr Romney's campaign is benefiting from the fractured social conservative support base. | Mr Gingrich, Mr Santorum and Mr Perry have all suggested that Mr Romney's campaign is benefiting from the fractured social conservative support base. |