On the Trail: Jan. 17

Huntsman ends White House bid and endorses Romney.

Newt Gingrich - Speaking at a breakfast on Monday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Newt Gingrich told the audience that the first bill he co-sponsored was one to make King’s birthday a legal holiday. "As a Georgian, I felt a particular obligation to stand up and say this was the right thing to do," he said. But later that night at the GOP debate, Gingrich defended calling President Obama a “food stamps president” and advocating that poor children take jobs as janitors to learn a work ethic, which critics say belittles the poor and racial minorities. —Joyce Jones(Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)

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Newt Gingrich - Speaking at a breakfast on Monday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Newt Gingrich told the audience that the first bill he co-sponsored was one to make King’s birthday a legal holiday. "As a Georgian, I felt a particular obligation to stand up and say this was the right thing to do," he said. But later that night at the GOP debate, Gingrich defended calling President Obama a “food stamps president” and advocating that poor children take jobs as janitors to learn a work ethic, which critics say belittles the poor and racial minorities. —Joyce Jones(Photo: REUTERS/Jason Reed)

Jon Huntsman - On the same day that Jon Huntsman received an endorsement from The State, South Carolina’s largest newspaper, the former Utah governor and ambassador to China dropped out of the GOP presidential nominating race and threw his support behind Mitt Romney. "I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama," Huntsman said at a news conference. "Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is Gov. Mitt Romney."(Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

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Jon Huntsman - On the same day that Jon Huntsman received an endorsement from The State, South Carolina’s largest newspaper, the former Utah governor and ambassador to China dropped out of the GOP presidential nominating race and threw his support behind Mitt Romney. "I believe it is now time for our party to unite around the candidate best equipped to defeat Barack Obama," Huntsman said at a news conference. "Despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues, I believe that candidate is Gov. Mitt Romney."(Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer)

Rick Perry - Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been unable to regain the momentum he initially brought to the Republican presidential primary race, lost a key South Carolina supporter this week. "I still believe he would be a great national leader, but campaigns are tough and early mistakes and missed opportunities have taken their toll," said state Sen. Larry Grooms. "Now is the time to get out and pass the baton to another leader that can take the message to the next level."(Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images)

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Rick Perry - Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who has been unable to regain the momentum he initially brought to the Republican presidential primary race, lost a key South Carolina supporter this week. "I still believe he would be a great national leader, but campaigns are tough and early mistakes and missed opportunities have taken their toll," said state Sen. Larry Grooms. "Now is the time to get out and pass the baton to another leader that can take the message to the next level."(Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images)

Ron Paul - Despite his success in recent primaries, Texas Rep. Ron Paul will not win the Republican nomination. Still, he plans to stay in the race for as long as he can and then leverage his delegates and other supporters to force the Republican party to adhere to its message of limited government, ABC News reports.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Ron Paul - Despite his success in recent primaries, Texas Rep. Ron Paul will not win the Republican nomination. Still, he plans to stay in the race for as long as he can and then leverage his delegates and other supporters to force the Republican party to adhere to its message of limited government, ABC News reports.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Mitt Romney - Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has for months resisted releasing his income tax returns, and now we know why. On Tuesday he acknowledged that he “probably” pays 15 percent in federal income taxes, which his rivals surely will use to cast him as being out of touch with middle-income Americans, who on average pay a much higher rate.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Mitt Romney - Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has for months resisted releasing his income tax returns, and now we know why. On Tuesday he acknowledged that he “probably” pays 15 percent in federal income taxes, which his rivals surely will use to cast him as being out of touch with middle-income Americans, who on average pay a much higher rate.(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Rick Santorum - Last weekend, a prominent group of evangelical leaders threw its support behind former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. Their backing has resulted in a 50 percent increase in online donations, CNN reports, which will help Santorum make additional advertising buys.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Rick Santorum - Last weekend, a prominent group of evangelical leaders threw its support behind former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. Their backing has resulted in a 50 percent increase in online donations, CNN reports, which will help Santorum make additional advertising buys.(Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)