Jon Huntsman 2012? Obama Ambassador Hints At Run For President

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

Jon Huntsman, the former GOP Utah governor who President Obama convinced to serve as U.S. ambassador to China, has hinted to Newsweek that he is considering a run for president himself.

Newsweek's McKay Coppins reports: Now, it appears, the ambassador is ready to make some noise of his own. Sitting in the echo-y living room of his new Washington home, Huntsman, a tall, lean man with silver hair and impeccable posture, pauses only briefly when faced with the question of presidential aspirations. "You know, I'm really focused on what we're doing in our current position," he says. "But we won't do this forever, and I think we may have one final run left in our bones." Asked whether he is prepared to rule out a run in 2012 (since it would require him to campaign against his current boss), he declines to comment.

The winking response--about as close to a hat-in-ring announcement as you'll get from a sitting member of the incumbent's administration--could just be a hollow cry for attention. But sources close to Huntsman (who requested anonymity to speak freely without his permission) say that during his December trip to the U.S., he met with several former political advisers in Washington and Salt Lake City to discuss a potential campaign.

In May 2009 -- prior to Huntsman's appointment as ambassador -- President Obama's presidential campaign chief David Plouffe claimed that the Utah Republican was the one potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate who made him feel a "wee bit queasy...I think he's really out there speaking a lot of truth about the direction of the party." Indeed, when Obama selected Huntsman for the ambassadorial role, it was viewed as an effort to handicap Huntsman's ability to throw his hat in the presidential ring.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/01/jon-huntsman-2012-president_n_803205.html

[frazzled]

1. Not gonna happen

At least according to James Fallows, of the Atlantic:

Oh Calm Down ('Huntsman 2012' Dept)
JAN 1 2011, 4:53 PM ET

Several friends in China have written to ask what I think of this Newsweek report that Jon Huntsman Jr., currently the US Ambassador to China, is planning to run for the GOP presidential nomination next year.

What I think is: Are you kidding?

Anything is possible in politics, so this could be too. But this is why it is wildly improbable.

(...)

Let's start with the most obvious deal breaker. The basic narrative of the "out" party, when a first-term president is running for a second term, is "Your Administration is Wrecking Our Country! We can't stand Four More Years! We need a basic change." That is what every Republican will have to say about the Obama Administration.

Huntsman is part of the Obama Administration. He is right in the middle of dealings with America's most important foreign-policy partner/challenge. So in the GOP Primaries, how exactly is he going to out-Obama anyone else in the field, given that he has served Obama (and, yes, the country) so loyally? The retorts from all the other Republicans are almost too easy. "If Ambassssadorrr Huntsman is so concerned about the Obama threat to America, then why,...?"

And if he got through that process, he would run against his current commander-in-chief .... how? And why? What is the issue of principle so important that it compels him to challenge Obama's continuation in office, but has not justified any disagreement while he's serving now? "Huntsman 2016" would be a very logical inference from his current position. "Huntsman 2012" would require suspension of basic laws of politics and common sense.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/oh-calm-down-huntsman-2012-dept/68737/

I agree with Fallows. Huntsman 2012, not so much. Huntsman 2016, very probably.

[nyy1998]

3. He's actually someone that makes me nervous, his credentials are pretty top notch

[Gman]

4. I'm sure teabaggers are just frothing to fall in line right behind him

LOL!

[timefortherevolution]

2. Obama was just helping out a fellow Republican.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[timefortherevolution]

9. Yes, Obama is a TRUE DEMOCRAT!

[watajob]

11. Since when is the truth...

... considered "trolling"?

[Peregrine Took]

6. LOL ! n/t

[Historic NY]

7. Who? see.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Who?

Sure.. I've heard his name before. But the vast majority of voters won't have a clue about him.

[sharesunited]

10. As the Republican nominee? How does a Mormon get the evangelicals to back him?

Same problem Mitt Romney has.