US:Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo, who campaigned on the single issue of illegal immigration, has dropped out of the race and thrown his support behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
Mr Tancredo feared that by staying in the race he would help Republicans John McCain and Mike Huckabee, whom he regards as soft on immigration. He said that Mr Romney was the candidate who best represented his fierce opposition to any deal that would legalise undocumented immigrants in the US.
"He was governor of a liberal state but opposed drivers' licences for illegal immigrants and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants. . . at a time when they weren't issues on the national scene," Mr Tancredo said.
His move comes as polls show Mr Romney trailing Mr Huckabee in Iowa, but leading the Republican field in New Hampshire, where John McCain is in second place. Mr Tancredo wants to force all illegal immigrants to go home and reapply to enter the country legally if they want to return, make English the national language and deny municipal services such as drivers' licences, social security benefits and state-subsidised education to illegal aliens.
"I feel really honestly at great peace. I've done everything I can do. I set out a series of goals for us when we did this thing. America has the issue. It's not Tom Tancredo. I don't have to breathe life into it any more. America has got it and these guys, they've got to respond," he said.
In a brief statement, Mr Romney welcomed Mr Tancredo's endorsement, adding: "While we don't agree on every issue, we agree on the need to keep America strong."
Mr McCain has hired Robert Bennett, a prominent criminal lawyer in Washington, to deal with allegations that the Republican candidate did favours for a Washington lobbyist. The New York Times has been researching the claims, but has not yet published a story about them.
Mr McCain confirmed that the paper was investigating the matter, telling reporters in Detroit that the claims were baseless and represented "gutter politics" similar to the whispering campaign that derailed his candidacy in South Carolina in 2000.
"I do find the timing of this whole issue very interesting. And we're not going to stand for what happened to us in 2000. We're getting close to the primary."
Mr McCain, whose campaign has gained strength in recent months after it almost fell apart during the summer, is depending on a good showing in New Hampshire to remain viable.
Rudy Giuliani has faded in recent weeks and his status as Republican frontrunner is under threat from Mr Huckabee.
Mr Giuliani spent a night in hospital in St Louis this week after he was diagnosed with "flu-like symptoms". As he left the hospital, Mr Giuliani, who has received treatment for prostate cancer, insisted that he was in good health and was preparing to return to the campaign trail late yesterday.