Jim Gilmore, Republican presidential candidate from Virginia, has withdrawn his candidacy for the nomination. He cites his late entry in the race and “front loaded nature of the primary schedule” for his withdrawal.

Notably, he comes right out and says that it takes “years of preparation to put in place both the political and financial infrastructure to contest what now amounts to a one-day national primary in February.”

The entire text of his withdrawal statement is here.

And then there were nine…

• Tom Tancredo
• John McCain
• Ron Paul
• Duncan Hunter
• Sam Brownback
• Rudy Giuliani
• Tommy Thompson
• Mike Huckabee
• Mitt Romney

and a half.

• Fred Thompson