Huntsman's decision to quit presidential race 'came from his gut'

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told supporters he had a "ticket to ride" after last week's New Hampshire presidential primary, but he already knew his race was coming to an end.

"He's a realist," Jeff Wright, Huntsman's Salt Lake-based national finance chairman, told the Deseret News shortly after Huntsman announced Monday he was dropping his bid for the White House. "This came from his gut."

Just days before South Carolina's Saturday primary, Huntsman endorsed GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney, the other Republican in the race with ties to Utah as the former leader of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and a fellow Mormon.

Because Huntsman has lagged so far behind the rest of the GOP field in most polls it was not clear his endorsement would have any significant impact on Romney in Saturday's primary election.

Huntsman's decision to exit followed a disappointing third-place finish in New Hampshire's Jan. 10 GOP primary, behind Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul despite a last-minute surge of support.

Since Huntsman had focused all of his campaign resources on New Hampshire, even skipping the first test of presidential candidates, the Iowa caucuses earlier this month, few believed he could continue.

"Huntsman put everything into New Hampshire. It was the proverbial 'Hail Mary" and it didn’t' make it to the end zone," said Kirk Jowers, a Romney supporter who advised Huntsman as governor. "So it was inevitable he was going to drop out."

Jowers, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said Huntsman likely took time after New Hampshire's election "to make sure everyone was at peace with abandoning the fight."

Huntsman broke the news to Wright and other key advisers Sunday evening and his decision quickly become public. Some tried to talk Huntsman into staying in the race, but not Wright.

Wright said he, too, is enough of a realist to realize the race was over.

"But I also think this was the right decision for him to make. I think he is leaving the race at a very good time in an honorable manner," Wright said. "Which is who he is. He's a very honorable person."

Although political observers speculate the Huntsman campaign was out of money, Wright said, had the resources to continue.