(Reuters) – Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman suspended his bid for the Republican nomination on Monday, endorsing rival Mitt Romney and calling on his party to end “an onslaught of negative and personal attacks.”

The former Utah governor, who also served as U.S. ambassador to China under President Barack Obama, never gained traction in the Republican campaign. Some conservative Republicans questioned his having worked for Obama; others doubted his conservative credentials.

Huntsman lagged in public opinion polls and had finished third in last week’s New Hampshire primary despite focusing much of his energy there after skipping the first nominating contest in Iowa.

Huntsman’s departure from the race and endorsement could provide a modest boost for fellow Mormon Romney, who is ahead in South Carolina after winning in Iowa and New Hampshire and is widely viewed as the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination.

https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/16/us-usa-campaign-huntsman-idUSTRE80F03G20120116

Huntsman quits US presidential race / Huntsman to End Campaign

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Huntsman quits US presidential race (via AFP)