[TheRealVille]

(CNN) -- 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. He urged the remaining candidates to stop attacking each other, warning that "the current toxic form of our political discourse does not help our cause."
Romney's campaign already is bolstered by a huge campaign war chest and a wave of momentum after wins in Iowa and New Hampshire. It's hoping for a possible knockout blow with a first place finish in the Palmetto State. South Carolina has picked the winner of every GOP presidential nomination fight since 1980.
"Governor Huntsman did not want to stand in the way of the candidate best prepared to beat Barack Obama and turn our economy around. That's Mitt Romney," a senior Huntsman campaign official told CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/16/politics/c...index.html