I think part of Huntsman’s failure to really catch on has to do with the fact he spent a couple years as US Ambassador to China.
As Ambassador, he was a professional diplomat. In China for as long as he was, he undoubtedly “went native” to some degree. He speaks Mandarin, and probably internalized a lot of the less expressive customs of the Chinese.
Thing is, that’s not how Americans are. So he learned a bunch of habits - qualities really - which won’t work for him in a GOP primary.
I think he’s probably a very capable guy. More than anyone gives him credit for.
That explains why he is “measured”. Thank you for the info.