Huntsman Bows Out of GOP Race

Jon Huntsman, who banked his presidential hopes on New Hampshire and before finishing a disappointing third in the Primary, is bowing out of the GOP race, the New York Times reported tonight.

Huntsman will endorse fellow candidate Mitt Romney, the newspaper reported.

Huntsman, a former Utah governor, campaigned harder in New Hampshire than any other GOP candidate. He held close to 200 public events in the state, including several in Exeter. He flew to – the same day he announced his candidacy.

Huntsman had the support of Exeter resident Maureen Barrows, a Rockingham County Commissioner. Another supporter was state Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton.

Stiles told Patch the media overlooked Huntsman.

"He had a good message ... he was the right candidate for the right time," Stiles said in a telephone interview tonight. "I just don't know why the media didn't pick up on that."

On Jan. 9, Huntsman that appeared to draw his biggest New Hampshire crowd. About 500 supporters came out to hear a fiery Huntsman outline his goals – including getting Congress to "balance the damn budget." His campaign staff pulled out all the stops, illuminating the building in a stunning wash of red and blue, with a "Huntsman" outline near the roof. The photo to the right is from the rally.

Over the last several days, Huntsman had been campaigning in South Carolina, which is holding its Primary Jan. 21.