Huntsman to drop out of US presidential race Monday

MYRTLE BEACH: Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has decided to drop out of the US presidential race, a spokesman for his campaign said late Sunday.

Tim Miller told ABC News an official announcement about the decision will be made on Monday, when Huntsman is expected to endorse former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, the frontrunner in the Republican race.

Miller said that Huntsman, a former ambassador to China and Utah governor, was "proud of the race that he ran" but "did not want to stand in the way" of Romney.

Huntsman has scheduled a press conference for 11:00 Monday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.