SOUTHERN ARIZONA (SGT NEWS) - Representative Tom Tancredo, known primarily for his focus on fixing the United States' illegal immigration problem, announced today that he will drop out of the presidential race.

Speaking at a news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, Tancredo publicly endorsed Republican presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Recent polling placed Tancredo near the bottom of the heap, registering less than 1% in an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released yesterday.

On Tancredo's web site, he said the cause "demands" that he drop out of the race. "The presidential campaign has come down to less than a handful of viable candidates. Unfortunately several of them have abysmal records on immigration and can’t be trusted to do what is needed to preserve this country if they’re elected. My fear is that if I were to stay in this race my votes could be the factor in handing victory to a pro-amnesty politician. Friends, we have done too much, come too far and the stakes are too high to play that hand. And so I am ending my presidential campaign."

"Not a day has gone by in this campaign that I have not thanked God for the dedication of so many Americans like you. I can promise you that as long as He gives me life and strength, I will work hard for our cause and to honor the trust you have placed in me," he concluded.