Huntsman Quits Race, Endorses Romney
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Jon Huntsman announced Monday he is quitting the Presidential race and throwing his support behind the GOP front-runner Mitt Romney.
It was quite a shift in roughly a week for Huntsman who last week told ABC News that Romney was "completely out of touch."
Huntsman started his campaign after serving as ambassador to China for President Barack Obama.
He was wooed to join the race, but his more moderate views couldn't drum up any support amongst the increasingly conservative primary.
The former Utah governor spent much of the last few months staking his campaign on winning New Hampshire.
But, even after almost going door-to-door in the state, Huntsman could only muster a third-place finish.
Huntsman didn't expect to win South Carolina, but the same day word of his exiting the race broke, the Palmetto State's largest newspaper, The State, endorsed Huntsman for president.
While Huntsman's endorsement may not bring much support to Romney; it will increase the pressure on both Texas governor Rick Perry to drop out and support either Newt Gingrich or Rick Santorum.
Gingrich may also be asked to drop out if he finishes behind Santorum in South Carolina.
All of it will lead to the Florida Primary on January 31. Assuming Perry drops out after South Carolina, and possibly Gingrich, it will make the Florida race a two-man contest.
Santorum and Gingrich have hitched their wagons to the most conservative parts of the party, if they come together, it could give Romney trouble in the Sunshine State.
