MYRTLE BEACH - Jon Huntsman, the former US ambassador to China, ended his presidential bid Monday and called on Republicans to unite in support of frontrunner Mitt Romney.

"Today, I am suspending my campaign for the presidency. I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama," he said. "Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is governor Mitt Romney."