Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman told his advisers on Sunday night that he will be dropping out of the presidential race and plans to endorse Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to reports.
Huntsman plans to announce that he is quitting the campaign and endorsing Romney as early as Monday, according to The New York Times. Huntsman’s campaign took a blow last week after he finished third in the New Hampshire primary, but he vowed to march on to South Carolina, which holds its primaries on Jan. 21.
Huntsman, who did not compete in the Iowa caucuses, staked his entire campaign on a strong showing in New Hampshire. Prior to announcing his bid for the GOP nomination, Huntsman served as Obama’s ambassador to China.
Huntsman will be the second GOP candidate to drop out since Jan. 4, the day after the Iowa caucuses, when Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann suspended her campaign.
