Tancredo ends presidential run

DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo ended his bid Thursday to be the Republican presidential nominee, throwing his support behind GOP contender Mitt Romney.

The Colorado Republican, who never emerged from the back of the pack, announced his decision in Des Moines, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported. He pulled 6 percent support among likely Republican caucus-goers in the newspaper's most recent poll.

Tancredo, 61, is best known for his tough stance on illegal immigration, but his hard-line approach to stemming the unlawful migration of millions into the United States failed to help move him from the rear of the GOP field.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, is among the leaders for the Republican presidential nod.