memeorandum: Huntsman to exit, back Romney (Maggie Haberman/The Politico)

9:40 AM ET, January 16, 2012

Top Items:

Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:

Huntsman Says He's Quitting G.O.P. Race — CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jon M. Huntsman Jr. informed his advisers on Sunday that he intends to drop out of the Republican presidential race, ending his candidacy a week before he had hoped to revive his campaign in the South Carolina primary.

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Sources: Huntsman to drop out of 2012 race tomorrow, endorse Romney — Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who was seen by Democrats months ago as the potential biggest threat to President Obama in a general election, is dropping out of the race tomorrow and will endorse Mitt Romney, a campaign official confirms to POLITICO.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and Towleroad News #gay

David Goldman / ABCNEWS:

Huntsman to Drop Out of GOP Race; Will Endorse Romney — ABC News' Michael Falcone reports: — Jon Huntsman will drop out of the Republican presidential race on Monday, a campaign spokesman told ABC News. — A source close to the Huntsman campaign said the former ambassador to China …

Discussion: The Hill, Patterico's Pontifications, Michelle Malkin, Campaign 2012 and National Review

NewsMax.com:

SC Poll: Romney Lead Grows, Gingrich Second — More ways to share... Mixx — Stumbled — LinkedIn — Vine — Buzzflash — Newstrust — Technocrati — Forward Article — An exclusive InsiderAdvantage poll released Sunday night shows GOP front-runner Mitt Romney gaining …

Discussion: Ballot Box, Taegan Goddard's … and The Hinterland Gazette

Alex Seitz-Wald / ThinkProgress:

Huntsman Drops Out: Is Set To Endorse Romney, Whom He Called ‘Unelectable’ — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) informed his advisers today that he is dropping out of the presidential race. After his third place finish in New Hampshire's primary, Huntsman declared that he had a “ticket to ride” …

Discussion: CBS News, msnbc.com, Daily Kos, Comments from Left Field, Firedoglake, US Politics and The Hill

Fox News:

Huntsman to withdraw from race for Republican presidential nomination — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman will withdraw his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Fox News confirmed Sunday. — Huntsman is set to announce his withdrawal from the race Monday at 11:00 a.m …

Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and Fox News Insider

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Huntsman to exit, back Romney — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Jon Huntsman will drop out of the GOP presidential race Monday morning and endorse Mitt Romney, POLITICO has confirmed. — Huntsman will endorse Romney in a speech at 11 a.m. Monday at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center

Discussion: CNN, USA Today, ABCNEWS, Shakesville, The Week, Ballot Box, Wall Street Journal, Zandar Versus The Stupid, Taylor Marsh, Greg's Opinion and Outside the Beltway

Kevinliptak / CNN:

Romney nabs Florida endorsement — (CNN) - Mitt Romney will announce the backing of the Florida Republican Rep. John Mica Monday, two weeks ahead of the Sunshine State's closely-watched primary vote. — Mica represents Florida's seventh district, which includes Republican-leaning suburbs between Orlando and Daytona Beach.

Discussion: The Hill

Associated Press:
Campaign officials: Huntsman to quit US race

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Washington Post:
Jon Huntsman will leave Republican presidential race, endorse Mitt Romney, officials say

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Booman Tribune and Prairie Weather

Washington Post:
Jon Huntsman to quit presidential race, endorse Mitt Romney

Discussion: Bangor Daily News, The Moderate Voice and THEROOT.COM

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
Perry: Obama administration over-reacting to Marine controversy

Discussion: CBS News, US Politics and Hullabaloo

The State:
Huntsman could bring us back together

Discussion: FITSNews, Wonkette, Firedoglake, Outside the Beltway, The Hinterland Gazette, Washington Post, msnbc.com and Wake up America

Zeke Miller / BuzzFeed:
Colbert Super PAC Goes Negative On Romney In First South Carolina Ad

Discussion: Towleroad News #gay, Runnin' Scared, Hullabaloo and The Politico

John Hinderaker / Power Line:

We Must Be Really, Really Stupid! — As you may have heard by now, Newsweek's forthcoming issue headlines, “Why are Obama's critics so dumb?” — Well, sure. We who who are unhappy that unemployment has increased on Obama's watch, that over-regulation has stymied economic growth …

Discussion: Instapundit

Andrew Restuccia / The Hill:

Jobs take center stage in Keystone fight — When U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue proclaimed that the Keystone XL pipeline would create 250,000 jobs, he touched a nerve in the environmental community. — “That's just not true,” Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, director …

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Beast:

Andrew Sullivan: How Obama's Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics — The right calls him a socialist, the left says he sucks up to Wall Street, and independents think he's a wimp. Andrew Sullivan on how the president may just end up outsmarting them all. — You hear it everywhere.

Discussion: Big Journalism and The Mahablog

Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:

Republican Sponsor Of Bill To Require Drug Testing For Georgia Welfare Recipients Arrested For DUI — A Georgia Republican who wants all welfare reciepients subject to drug tests failed one himself after he ran a red light on Friday morning. The Atlanta Journal Constiution has the story on State Rep. Kip Smith (R):

Discussion: Suburban Guerrilla and Alan Colmes' Liberaland