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Jon Huntsman will drop his presidential bid and endorse Mitt Romney, according to campaign sources.
"He doesn't want to stand in the way of the person who is going to be the nominee," a campaign source said.
Huntsman will make the announcement during a speech in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Monday at 11 a.m. ET, spokesman Tim Miller said. Huntsman, who earlier Sunday was endorsed by The State (the largest newspaper in South Carolina), had vowed to stay in the race despite his third-place showing in New Hampshire. He boasted in a speech on primary night Tuesday that he had a "ticket to ride" and that it was "on to South Carolina."
The move to endorse Romney is especially ironic, considering Huntsman up until yesterday, was saying nobody wants a "coronation." Huntsman also delivered his most searing line of the campaign -- at Romney's expense -- in a debate just before the New Hampshire primary. Romney criticized Huntsman's service as ambassador to China under President Obama to which Huntsman replied, "This nation is divided because of attitudes like that."
NBC's Chris Donovan reminds that Huntsman also was harshly critical of Romney on Meet the Press, questioning his consistency. "When there is a question about whether you're running for the White House or running for the waffle house, you've got a real problem with the American people," Huntsman charged.
He went on to add that he believed because of Romney's inconsistency, he was "unelectable."
"I think when you're on too many sides of the issues of the day, when you don't have that core, when there's that element of trust out there," Huntsman said, "I think that becomes a problem, and I think it makes you unelectable against Barack Obama."
He later went on to say he'd support Romney if he becomes the nominee, "but I think the electability issue is a, is a very real one."
Political reality apparently set in for the former Utah governor. He did not poll well in the Palmetto State, never rising above low single digits. The path for him was not at all clear after New Hampshire, and he acknowledged that his expectations in South Carolina were "very low."
"Gov. Huntsman is proud of the race he ran and his message of restoring trust in Washington," another campaign source said. "But he did not want to stand in the way of the candidate best prepared to beat Barack Obama and turn the economy around. That's Mitt Romney."
Brian Snyder / Reuters
Businessman, governor and ambassador: a look at Jon Huntsman's public life.
Huntsman decided "days ago" -- shortly after the New Hampshire primary -- that he would not go on with his campaign, according to a high-level source close to the campaign.
Senior staffers in South Carolina say the campaign struggled to get Huntsman to campaign in the state following his third-place finish in New Hampshire. They say the campaign had no infrastructure in the state and suffered from lack of resources and communication issues. Not even signs had arrived yet from New Hampshire. Many volunteers had no work assigned to them.
One senior South Carolina staffer said he was disappointed with what he had been promised by the campaign and was already mulling returning to his previous job.
Senior supporters and consultants were continually frustrated, they said, by a lack of fundraising to support what the national campaign originally promised -- a full-fledged campaign. Senior sources also noted that many fundraisers questions why Huntsman chose not to fund his campaign with his personal wealth. They were frustrated also that more resources were not devoted earlier.
NBC's Garrett Haake reports that Huntsman's campaign advance director was told the candidate was dropping out by a Romney staffer, who had been told by an NBC reporter minutes earlier. According to that Romney staffer, Huntsman campaign staff were at the debate walk through (there's a debate tomorrow night) asking "real" questions and were seemingly fully involved.
Much, if not all, of the Romney campaign team was also unaware -- despite Huntsman endorsing him tomorrow. The campaign's political director, for example, found out via a news alert.
Several members of the Huntsman advance team, who flew down just this morning, were unaware of the decision. Huntsman's regional political director found of the decision via an NBC reporters' Tweet.
Huntsman's YouTube channel -- which used to have lots of anti-Romney videos on it -- has been scrubbed already and none of the anti-Romney videos are there any longer. Also taken down are www.scaredmittless2012.com and 10Kbet.com -- both were created by the Huntsman campaign.
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How can any democrat support Obama? He just signed a bill that can anad will detain Americans indefinately, guilty or not, and assinate us just the same, just google NDAA Bill, what is wrong with you people, this man is 5 times worse thsn George Bush, look who surrounds, yeah thats righ former Goldman Sachs boys, hes not for any of us but is a corporatist, Hes done absolutely about the economical dilemma that this country is in, starts wars without consent of congress, has blood on his hands from operation fast and furious and if you think the banks are the problem they are but the main problem is him and the rest of the scum in D.C they make the rules, I was a democrat all my life, not any more i switched to the constitutional party, seeing how the democrats and republicans are one in the same, the only thing that seperates the parties is the names they call themselves, nothing but 1 snake with 2 heads, vote Ron Paul do yourself and country a favor.
Nice try, but thank you for voting.
American Veteran 1, The Enemy Expatriation Act is worse than the National Defense Authorization Act that our government is working on now. It strips are our rights of citizenship away. Combine that with the NDAA and we the people are royally screwed.
Nominate Dr Ron Paul for President of the United States of America 2012
Get out of the U.S. as soon as you can. There are people needing your jobs.
I have not had a job since 2005. I have lived homeless for several years. I get food stamps only if I absolutely need them. I am disabled and can not work and I do not get Social Security disability benefits.
If you worked most of your life, it's your money if you get dis-ability.
I have said this before and I will say it again we the people should support our troops and our veterans and nominate Dr Ron Paul for President of the United States of America 2012 because our troops support Ron Paul more than all other candidates combined. We the people are going to need the military and our veterans on our side.
Deb, thats what I told Social Security. I have given up trying to get it a long time ago.
Let me get this right, Jeffrey, you don't work, you are disabled but get no SSD, you ONLY get food stamps when you need it, AND you are homeless? How you are on here is a great mystery then, unless you go to the local library to log on, and at the time you posted, the library would be closed. Must be Immaculate Internet Conception of some sort. Seriously, Jeffrey, sounds like you haven't tried hard enough to get SSD, if you've given up so easily, or the injury/disability isn't sufficiant to receive SSD benefits.
Romney and Obama are on different sides of the same Totem Pole. In public they appear to be againsst each other but in private they are laughing their are preparing for the New World Order. In the NWO we the people will lose all of rights of freedom as citizens and become subjects (Slaves) of the New World Order.
Romney is the same book as Obama with a different cover. The same people and money are backing both of them.
Nominate Dr Ron Paul for President of the United States of America 2012
The road to PEACE is paved with FREEDOM
What the hell is with this New World Order Conspiracy? Isn't that just an evangelical right-wing conspiracy theory? Besides. there is no proof that that is happening nor is their any proof that if it did happen that the world government would take our freedoms.
Fantomdog, I have tried for years to get disability or SS but I have been denied.
As far as the internet I can get the signal in the parking lot of the libray.
The accident happened when I was picking up a flat-bed load of hey and a bail of hey fell on my head from the top of the load and messed up my neck, back and brain. My head still rings and my teeth fell out because of the numbness. It just killed them. Most of the time I am laying down. I can get around to take care of my personal things but only for a short period of time at a time.
Freshee, thats what the NDAA and the Enemy Expstriation Act do. HR 3166 and S 1698
We are living in the time of Revalations. The scales of time are being held in the hand of one of the Four Horseman. In his other hand is a rope that is tied into a noose.
On one side of the scales of time is the "Age of Enlightenment" where the truth shall live and the lies will die.
On the other side of the scales of time is the "Age of Enslavement" where the lies will live and the truth shall die.
Jenasus Trinity Hawkins
If RoSe'S are ReD and ViOLeTTe'S are BLuE than I will give my LOVE to YOU.
Jenasus Trinity Hawkins
World Wide Warning
02/29/2012 Add the day, month and year together and you get 18=1+8=9 than add the day 29 together and you get 11. Put them both together and you get 9/11 on leap day of leap year 2012.
Be prepared people. Better safe than sorry. If nothing happens we can all have a Dooms Day Party.
Jon Huntsman really was the only one that could of beat Obama. I hope Santorum wins the GOP race because he is not very bright.
You can't have two Mormons running....one of them had to drop out, and it wasn't Mitt.
Huntsman endorsing Romney is yet ANOTHER democrat trying to pick the GOP nominee. WHO CARES what this Obama-lackey thinks?!
Another "democrat" ??
You simply can't be this mindlessly... limited....
Huntsman is a republican, and Gov. of a very conservative state...
Sorry Rick but he's a Republican who served under Obama. And like he told Romney, it was because he put country before party. Wish more were like that...
Rick-868962: Your comment reflects exactly the problem with the GOP. How short-sighted, and just plain dumb, to consider Mr. Huntsman a Democrat just because he served in the Obama administration. He is extremely conservative. And, he is what the GOP needs. However, the blind hatred of President Obama obscures some Republicans' ability to consider what is best for their party.
Perhaps Huntsman's best contribution to this cycles election: "Opinions like that, David, are what divides this country".
People were Beatles-quoting earlier in the posts. How about "Come Together, right now".
VP...whatever. Maybe sec of state (doubtful, but maybe). More and more I'm for internet censorship.
Huntsman never gained any traction. Of course, regressives love Huntsman because he is closest to Obama.
Romney doesn't have a strong enough majority to gain the nomination prior to the convention. After SC Perry should be done and maybe Santorum.
Although he's not a conservative himself, I agree with Gingrich that a sharp contrast with Obama will produce better results. Independents are not moderates- they voted for a leftist last time, didn't they?
Closest to Obama? Why, because he served under him? No, he just put his country before his party. What a novel concept especially for a Republican...
ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT / STOP THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS; IT IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE WAR ON DRUGS!!!
Romney is a second generation American. His grandfather was a Mexican and he has more relatives in Mexico by far. Surprise!
Has anyone seen his long form birth certificate?
why we are at it here, why haven't any of romneys sons in the military???????????
5 sons and not one has helped their country??????????
like father like sons i guess.
oh i know why...because the rich get away with everything................even learning how to be real men!!!!!!!
And the Romneys are are Mexicans............so he better not put other mexicans down for coming to America like they did. And they are mormans and his grandfather had 4 wifes.........
I do wish Huntsman well in the future. He was one Mormon I could vote for.. sorry he endorsed Romney though. I am certainly on the "anybody but Mitt" wagon. I will vote for Obama before Romney.
Now, all the Republicans we are left with, are, to varying degrees, Fakes, Freaks, and Fanatics.
all of them are better than the Organizer in Chief
Prohb: So true! But that's what the American voting public wants.
Huntsman was a Democrat in Republican clothing. SAYONARA Mr. HUNTSMAN
sonar guy: Please explain how Mr. Huntsman is a Democrat in Republican clothing. In my opinion, he is extremely conservative.
Mary, sonar has been under water for such a long time, the pings don't even bounce off him any more.
So sad, Huntsman is the best of all the generic's running for office.
LMAO a radical fanatic like Paul doesn't expect to win himself. He is trying to set up Rand Paul for 2016
I really liked Huntsman and thought he was the only sane GOP candidate out of all of them and then he goes ahead and endorses Romney. Can't see me supporting him any longer after that blunder.
So "Flavor of the Month" just dropped out.
All the morons who are blithering and blathering about nominating Paul, Gingrich, or Santorum are certainly going to be surprised when Romney wins the nomination. [I'm not--he will gather up more than enough delegates to do it.]
Then in November, when Romney wins only Utah, Oklahoma and Mississippi, even more people are going to be surprised. But I'm not one of them.
--Looking forward to Obama's second inaugural address....
Romney will win Fl. Obama lost the Jews and their money
NO he hasn't.....................and the Jewish are very smart people and they know that the Tea party republicans don't give a dam about them at all..............president Obama is a ver kind respected man and the Jewish faith has faith in him not in greedy , liars like the tea party republicans.
That's too bad because he was intelligent and told the truth. He didn't play around with the truth. But the American public doesn't want the TRUTH. They want "image" and lies. Besides there couldn't be two Mormons running, and I think the stabs at his family was very hurtful. That was very low.
Let's see now. Huntman is Morman/Romney is a Morman. Well, that makes sense that he's supporting Romney.
Yup, it'll be Romney v. Obama in 2012 unless there will be a very strong 3rd party.
Huntsman ruined his campaign when he chose to skip Iowa. What a mistake.
That's relly too bad. He was the only GOP candidate that was worth consideration. Intelligent and truthful, he was the only one i could have lived with if there were to be a Republican in the White House.
GOP race just shifted further to the right.
That's because Huntsman was a flip-flopper.
Actually, they are driving on the right shoulder and screaming at those in the regular lanes that they are leftists. They are heading for a bridge to nowhere.
Romney is the flip-flopper
President Obama in 2012!!!!! Anyone who votes for any of the remaining candidates is insane!
Sure maybe he can borrow like 4 trillion more dollars !!!!! DUMBAZZ
It may take more trillions to save the United States from the damage done by Republicans. Where were you when Bush was running up debt and running down the country, Ditto Head?
SON!!!! I told you over and over,don't call people DUMBAZZ!!! Go sit in the corner!!!
President Obama 2012
Your right Affinity1..........OBAMA 2012..........thank god
Obama Biden 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These GOP'ers poor folk should just give up. With obama's $48,000/plate on wall street monday, he will have a $750 million war chest.
48 THOUSAND DOLLARS A PLATE - that's gotta be some prime shrimp salad.
The Repubs have less than $200M between them. obama just bought the thing. He own it.
The very very very fat (obese) lady with the huge fatass cheeks is filling her lungs to sing.
and the 6 DWARFS drop to 5 (and they are STILL named "DOPEY" - particularly santorum)
I still like them better than the Organizer in Chief, At least they have held a real job once in their life
Ummm... yeah...
Ole newty was a "historian" for Freddie Mac..
Ole newty... keepin' it real...
Scotty, The President held several jobs. Why don't you know that?
Probably because Rush Limbaugh told him that thinking about that was anti-American.
Next on Frontline:..... Buying America's Highest Office of President.
So what? Was he ever actually in the race, so why is this a headline?
true he was the "also ran" of "also rans"
Huntsman? Who's Huntsman?
He's the only one they had with a record of experience that could have defeated Obama
The GOP decided to go with Romney who says our economy & government should be like France
Mitt Romney, imagine that! ---- A BAILOUT Prince of private equity firms, hows that for a major conservative Flip Flop? A GOP that now supports Federal Bailouts
A vote for Romney is the down fall of America !!!!!!!!!!!!!