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Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman withdrew from the Republican presidential race Monday and endorsed front-runner Mitt Romney, providing a potentially pivotal potential boost for the former Massachusetts governor.

Huntsman made the announcement in South Carolina, site of the critical first Southern primary this Saturday. His decision could provide an extra cushion of votes for Romney, who is facing stiff conservative competition from Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

"Our campaign for the presidency ends, but our campaign for a (better) American continues," Huntsman declared. "I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama. Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is Gov. Mitt Romney."

Huntsman urged the remaining candidates to stop attacking each other, warning that "the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause."

"This race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative and personal attacks not worthy of the American people and not worthy of this critical time," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/16/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html?hpt=hp
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