Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


    January 16, 2012

Republican Presidential Field Shrinks, Huntsman Withdraws

   Michael Bowman
   Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman,
   accompanied by his wife Mary Kaye Huntsman, announces he is ending his
   campaign in Myrtle Beach, S.C., January 16, 2012.
   Photo: AP
   Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman,
   accompanied by his wife Mary Kaye Huntsman, announces he is ending his
   campaign in Myrtle Beach, S.C., January 16, 2012.

   The field of Republican candidates vying to challenge President Barack
   Obama has shrunk with the withdrawal of former Utah Governor Jon
   Huntsman.
   From the beginning, Jon Huntsman's bid for the Republican presidential
   nomination was considered a longshot. Less well-known than other,
   better-funded competitors, the two-term governor and former U.S.
   ambassador to China did not compete in the Iowa caucuses and finished a
   disappointing third in last week's New Hampshire primary.
   Addressing supporters in South Carolina, Huntsman criticized
   in-fighting among Republican contenders and what he termed 'toxic'
   political discourse, urging a unified effort to tackle America's
   economic challenges. He threw his support behind Republican
   front-runner Mitt Romney.
   'My candidacy was staked on the simple principle of 'country first',
   and driven by a refusal to pass down to the next generation a country
   that is less powerful, less prosperous and less competitive than the
   one we inherited. Today, I am suspending my campaign for the
   presidency," Huntsman stated. "I believe it is time for our party to
   unite around the candidate best-equipped to beat Barack Obama. Despite
   our differences, I believe that candidate is Governor Mitt Romney.'
   Former Massachusetts Governor Romney, a Mormon like Huntsman, was not
   present for the endorsement.
   Huntsman's withdrawal leaves Romney, former House Speaker Newt
   Gingrich, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Senator Rick Santorum, and
   Texas Governor Rick Perry as the remaining contenders for the
   Republican presidential nomination.
   South Carolina is the third state to hold nominating contests, and
   voters go to the polls Saturday. The eventual nominee will face Barack
   Obama, a Democrat seeking re-election, in November.