Republican candidate Jon Huntsman said on Monday he was suspending his presidential campaign and would endorse front-runner Mitt Romney.
Huntsman, a moderate Republican, lagged in opinion polls and finished third in last week's New Hampshire primary despite a huge campaigning effort there. Conservative Republicans mistrusted him for working for Democratic President Barack Obama as U.S. ambassador to China.
His departure from the race and endorsement could provide a modest boost for fellow Mormon Romney, who is ahead in South Carolina after winning the first two nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.