Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman formally dropped out of the presidential race on Monday.
“Today I am suspending my campaign for the presidency,” Huntsman said during a press conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Huntsman also endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination. Huntsman noted that although there was “space” between himself and his former rival, Romney was the GOP’s best bet to unseat President Obama.
“I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama. Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is Governor Mitt Romney.”
While Romney did not appear at the press conference, Huntsman will tape a robocall ad for him, according to Huntsman aides.
Huntsman’s backing of Romney came as somewhat of a surprise as his campaign had focused most of their attacks on him.
Flanked by his wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, and his daughter, Mary Anne Huntsman, and sharing the stage with some high profile South Carolinians who endorsed Huntsman, the former Utah governor began his speech with a call for the Republican presidential field to stop attacking each other. He said the country’s political discourse had become too toxic.
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2 Responses
“Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman formally dropped out of the presidential race on Monday.”
No, he did not *formally* drop out. On the contrary, formally his campaign is only suspended, and in theory could resume activity at any time. What you should have written is that he *effectively* dropped out. The reason he didn’t formally end his campaign is so that he can continue to raise money in order to pay off his debts.
Gov Huntsman was the best candidate the GOP had. Besides campaign staff problems, he failed because this current Republican party is afraid of all civility and intelligence. I don’t recognize my party anymore. Romney is only one left who might have a chance against Obama, but the race is not gonna be pretty.