Huntsman gets New Hampshire newspaper endorsements

Yahoo ^ | 12/18/11 | Ros Krasny - Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

(Reuters) - Republican Jon Huntsman, who has based his 2012 campaign for the White House almost exclusively on a strong showing in New Hampshire, has been rewarded with endorsements from two newspapers in the state with an early primary election.

The Keene Sentinel and the Valley News both praised the former U.S. ambassador to China in editorials on Sunday.

The endorsements were another snub to Mitt Romney, a former governor of neighboring Massachusetts who has dominated most opinion polls in New Hampshire this year but whose lead has recently narrowed in the race for the Republican nomination to run for president.

In late November, the only state-wide New Hampshire newspaper, the conservative Union Leader, endorsed former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich over Romney.

Huntsman, a former governor of Utah, has pitched himself as a moderate Republican alternative who is best suited to challenge President Barack Obama's bid for re-election in November 2012.

Huntsman has held well over 100 campaign events in the small Northeast state and polls suggest his message has started to catch on with New Hampshire's independent voters.

In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Huntsman predicted an upset victory in the state and said his competitors are "running for panderer in chief more than anything else."

Recent surveys have shown Huntsman vying for third place in the New Hampshire with U.S. Representative Ron Paul.

In endorsing Huntsman, the Keene Sentinel praised the candidate's international affairs and capacity for "flexibility and nuance."

"His principal qualifying distinctions include a boldness in economic policy that belies his temperate personal demeanor and a belief that the country's divisions cannot be closed by bulldozers moving in only one direction," the paper said.

[NormsRevenge]

Republican presidential candidate former Utah governor Jon Huntsman speaks
during the Republican Party presidential candidates debate in Sioux City, Iowa,
December 15, 2011. REUTERS/Eric Gay/Pool

[Parley Baer]

“Huntsman, a former governor of Utah, has pitched himself as a moderate Republican alternative”

The writer got that part right. Huntsman is a RINO.

[trisham]

Imho, the only newspaper in New Hampshire that has any clout is the Union Leader.

[Timber Rattler]

FLASHBACK:

Jon Huntsman’s Love Letters (to Obama & the Clintons)

Huntsman's Liberal Policies as Governor Pose Challenge

Huntsman: Climate Change Has Established Scientists Associated With It

Jon Huntsman's Cap and Trade, Stimulus Support and Individual Mandate Past Catches Up to Him

Huntsman in 2009: Stimulus "Probably Wasn't Big Enough"

Video: Take it from Jon Huntsman

Huntsman's Anti-GOP Strategy

[EGPWS]

"His principal qualifying distinctions include a boldness in economic policy that belies his temperate personal demeanor and a belief that the country's divisions cannot be closed by bulldozers moving in only one direction,"

ROTFLMAO!

Let me guess, this newspaper isn't known for it's conservative voice?

That statement is like saying "Charles Manson was such a nice boy...."

[Bobalu]

Huntsman is such a RINO loser.

Nice girls though!

[Timber Rattler]

Not only that, but he admitted a couple of months back that his New Hampshire strategy involved getting Rats to raid the GOP primary and vote for him.

And this loser wants to carry the Republican banner?

[pallis]

It’s the next best thing to votes, something for Huntsman to put in his scrapbook after when he drops out.

[Leep]

There is someone named Huntsman running for President? Next, you will tell me there is a libertarian who has ran for President 5 times in third place.

[GeronL]

No doubt they support Obama in the general election. right?

[Cicero]

Huntsman is probably even worse than Romney, and that is saying a LOT.

[Tredegar]

Good news! The slow, steady rise in New Hampshire continues. As usual, the negativity on the thread doesn’t actually mention any of Huntsman’s policies. There is a reason for that. He has a superb record, and some genuinely bold and innovative proposals.

A long way to go, and the path is steep, but I’m delighted that Governor Huntsman is gaining a bit of traction in the Granite State.