(KCPW News) Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman wasted no time in endorsing front-runner Mitt Romney when dropping out of the GOP presidential race today. Despite his campaign’s repeated criticism of Romney’s record on the economy and social issues, Huntsman immediately got behind the former Massachusetts governor at a news conference in South Carolina.
“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 Governor Mitt Romney,” he said.
That was Huntsman’s only mention of his former rival during the announcement.
Though the former Utah Governor said “this race has degenerated into an onslaught of negative personal attacks not worthy of the American people,” he also attacked President Obama.
“Three years ago, the President promised to unite the American people. Yet his desire to engage in class warfare for political gain has left us more divided than ever,” he said.
Huntsman walked out of the room after his announcement, ignoring questions being shouted by reporters. His departure from the race comes after his 3rd-place finish in New Hampshire, the state where he most aggressively campaigned.
Watch the announcement courtesy of C-SPAN:
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