Huntsman to Endorse Romney

Posted on Jan 15, 2012

Gage Skidmore (CC-BY-SA)

People often knock polls, but in the case of Jon Huntsman, the numbers didn’t lie. After trailing most candidates for the majority of the race, Huntsman has reportedly decided to quit the stump and endorse fellow Mormon and alleged moderate Mitt Romney.

When President Obama named Huntsman to be his ambassador to China (Huntsman quit before announcing his candidacy), it was speculated that the president was shrewdly eliminating a dangerous general election opponent by absorbing him into the administration.

But it seems that quality which most threatened Obama, Huntsman’s appeal to voters beyond the conservative fringe, disqualified him from winning any primaries.  —PZS

Update: On Monday, Huntsman made good on the rumors that he’d give Romney a boost. The BBC has more.

BBC:

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has ended his presidential campaign, complaining that “negative and personal attacks” have marred Republican race.

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.

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