SC Primary: Huntsman Quits Race [VIDEO]

Republican Jon Huntsman has dropped out of the GOP presidential race and has endorsed Mitt Romney.

Huntsman said the former Massachusetts governor gives the Republican Party its best shot at defeating President Barack Obama in the November general election.

After staking his candidacy on New Hampshire, Huntsman finished third in the primary there last week. He faced a likely defeat in South Carolina’s primary on Saturday.

NJ Decides: Presidential Election 2012
SC Primary

Huntsman’s resume had suggested he could be a major contender for the GOP presidential nomination. But the former Utah governor and diplomat found a poor reception for his brand of moderate civility, which he had hoped would draw support from independents as well as Republican moderates.

Huntsman announced his decision Monday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Santorum accuses pro-Romney PAC of lying in SC

Republican Rick Santorum is calling on GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney to call off a political action committee he says is blatantly lying about the former Pennsylvania senator’s record on felon voting rights and spending.

Campaigning for Saturday’s South Carolina primary, Santorum said at a news conference Monday that the attacks by the pro-Romney group Restore Our Future are a “smear campaign.”

The group is airing ads in the state accusing Santorum of backing voting rights for felons. Santorum supports allowing felons who have completed their sentences to apply to have their voting rights restored, the law in most states.

The ads and automated telephone calls also accuse Santorum of supporting earmark spending in Congress. Santorum noted that among the earmarks he sought were for medical research and weapons system projects.

Read Original: SC Primary: Huntsman Quits Race [VIDEO]