Eric Thayer / Reuters

Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman departs the stage after announcing the suspension of his 2012 presidential bid in Myrtle Beach.

Slideshow: Jon Huntsman Jr.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Businessman, governor and ambassador, a look at his public life.

Launch slideshow

Jon Huntsman ended his campaign for president Monday on a cautionary note to fellow Republicans, urging them to abandon negative campaigning or risk fostering a "toxic" political environment.

Huntsman backed  former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, "despite our differences and the space between us on some of the issues."

Huntsman's campaign launched with a great deal of media fanfare, not least of which resulted from his decision to resign a spot in the Obama administration to run against a president for whom Huntsman had worked. 

Follow @msnbc_pictures

Matt Rourke / AP

Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman looks on as students explore new iPads leased from iSchool during an event at Strong Foundations Charter School, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Pembroke, N.H.

Matt Rourke / AP

Student Bryanna Valley holds on to an iPad autographed by Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman during an event at Strong Foundations Charter School, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Pembroke, N.H.

While the other Republican presidential candidates have chosen to focus their energies on the Iowa caucuses, Jon Huntsman chose to skip them to instead focus on New Hampshire.

AP reports:

After drawing about 150 people to his first stop [in New Hampshire], Huntsman told reporters Iowa plays an important role in narrowing the field, and said Rick Santorum's recent rise there shows that traditional grassroots campaigning is still important.

But it will be New Hampshire that "will set the standard going forward," he said.

"Electability isn't going to come out of Iowa, electability is going to come out of New Hampshire," Huntsman said later in Franklin.

Huntsman says the results of the Iowa caucuses will be forgotten within days, but that could be wishful thinking on his part — especially if former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney wins in Iowa and then heads to New Hampshire, where he has long been the front-runner. Read the full story.

For the latest information from the campaign trail visit our FirstRead blog.

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Former Utah Governor Republican Jon Huntsman speaks during a press conference to announce his bid for the presidency at Liberty State Park on June 21 in Jersey City, New Jersey. Huntsman, until recently the U.S. ambassador to China under President Obama, emphasized his record as a two-term governor of Utah.

Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images

Huntsman launched his 2012 White House bid on Tuesday, vowing to reverse US decline and sharply assailing President Barack Obama's handling of the economy.

Stan Honda / AFP - Getty Images

Republican Jon Huntsman and family just before he announced he will run for US president on June 21.

 Related links:

• Jon Huntsman Jr. Slideshow
• Huntsman jumps into 2012 GOP primary race
• First Thoughts: Who is Jon Huntsman?
• Other political news