Posted on 06/21/2011 4:53:20 AM PDT by Pan_Yan
SALT LAKE CITY — Jon Huntsman Jr. is a high school dropout, a Harley-riding ex-governor and a diplomat whose last boss was President Barack Obama. Now this Republican wants Obama’s job.
...
Authenticity also defines Huntsman, friends say, and helps explain his success as a moderate politician in solidly conservative Utah, where he was re-elected with 75 percent of the vote in 2008. Huntsman resigned from the governor’s mansion less than a year later when Obama tapped him to serve as his ambassador to China. He gave up the diplomatic post in Beijing after less than two years to make his run for president.
Huntsman’s moderate views could work against him in the Republican primaries, where conservative voters dominate. As Utah governor, he supported legislation to deal with climate change and backed civil unions for gay couples, positions that angered the GOP base but had little impact on his overall popularity.
“It makes him an incredibly weak candidate in the GOP field,” says Alex Slater, a Democratic consultant. But if Huntsman can win the Republican nomination, Slater says, he would be “the only candidate the White House fears” in a general election.
...
“He infuriated those who tried to hijack the party, those who claimed to speak for God,” said University of Washington President Michael Young, a friend since they served together in the first Bush administration, when Huntsman was a deputy trade ambassador. “But he was wildly popular with the bulk of the party.”
Friends and colleagues describe a man who puts a priority on family.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of Huntsman’s closest political allies and a good friend, points to the results: two sons in the U.S. Naval Academy, a concert pianist daughter and another daughter who works for a New York City public relations firm.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“It makes him an incredibly weak candidate in the GOP field,”
Ya think
he supported legislation to deal with climate changeIn other words, he flunked a basic IQ test. Along with Gingrich.
Oh, and this is the top headline on Google News.
The base needs to attack huntsman’s campaing fast and relentlessly. He is a RINO and DC creature.
we do not need another mccain or crist.
no more stalking horses to divide conservatives.
He can hop on his Harley and ride out of town. The media can push him, but he hasn’t a chance to win.
“Slater says, he would be “the only candidate the White House fears” in a general election. “
Yeah right.
Obama gave out ambassadorships as repayment on favors.
That’s enough for me.
The Washington Post puff piece on Huntsman. Again, old media trying to pick the GOP candidate.
It’s a democrat strategist, speaking unofficially on behalf of the White House as written by the AP and printed in the Washington Post. How could you doubt it?
Oh, good. Finally a Mormon in the race.
OMG! What drivel.
I don’t know Huntsman from Jonah, So this chowderhead journalist is going to enlighten me.
He smells like a Romney strawman to me.
Sorry John, not interested.
This guy worships at the altar of global warming.
This guy worships at the altar of global warming.
At least we know more about his education than the _resident.
“Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of Huntsman’s closest political allies and a good friend”
Here’s your sign.
Has Coulter, Kraut and Rove fallen in love yet?
Pray for America
Going nowhere even with MSM and lib/dem gushing and pushing until post Primary whenthey would suddenly begin discovering so many bad things.
“Hog riding Dropout” Jon nor Mutt are “our guy” this time.
So basically he is a quitter?
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