[St. Louis Conservative]

Questionable strategy by Newt. He elevates Huntsman who can really benefit from the exposure, and he also opens himself up to attack from Huntsman - no doubt Huntsman will look for opportunities to draw blood.

However, this setup is right in Gingrich’s wheelhouse. There’s no one better in a debate format than Gingrich - especially one where the moderator’s role is limited and the candidates have free reign more or less.

This will make good TV!

[BarnacleCenturion]

“He elevates Huntsman who can really benefit from the exposure”

This is good. Huntsman is more conservative than Gingrich.

Huntsman’s got nothing to lose and will probably go in packed with grenades.

It’s a win/win. Best case scenario: they both self destruct. Worst case scenario: Newt wins and steals Huntsman’s supporters which gives him a 1% bump in the polls.

[StAnDeliver]

"no doubt Huntsman will look for opportunities to draw blood."

What, by opening a vein and bleeding all over himself? Newt knows Huntsman sux rocks...better sport would have been had debating a Presidential-candidate blast-from-the-past like Buchanan...

[RockinRight]

Why not? Huntsman, if he surges, would draw more from Romney than anyone else, IMHO.

[Future Useless Eater]

Questionable strategy by Newt.

Not so... It makes sense. It is win-win for both.

The same people who like Mitt also like Huntsman, so Huntsman will steal from Mitt's support.

And the timing, exactly ONE MONTH before the NH debate,
And the location also NH, so it will get a lot of NH viewers at exactly the same time where voters start paying CLOSE attention to an upconming election.

Should get a lot of NH press coverage. It will play in Iowa TV and MSM as well, since THEY will be only 3 weeks from their caucus.

All of this will also remind voters that Mitt is a coward to not debate Newt. (not presidential material)



( To the Gingrich-haters that troll-n-trash most Gingrich threads; I will try to not address you. Please do not cc or reply to me )

[9YearLurker]

I don’t know, this is one context in which Huntsman can come off as relatively humble and even likable.

I’m not so sure Huntsman is even a bad idea as a candidate, compared to Romney, Newt or Perry.