White House fears Huntsman Candidacy

[Kevin]

The Obama White House has some serious concerns about the threat a Huntsman candidacy for the Republican nomination could pose for the President's reelection aspirations. Apparently, the President's top political aides worry that Huntsman would make a very formidable candidate due to his strong governing record in Utah, moderate positions on many issues, wealthy background, youth, as well as his connections through his family. All of which were  main reasons they offered him the ambassadorship to China in hopes that he wouldn't challenge the administration in any way. Although many within Obama's circle have strong doubts that he will become the Republican nominee due to his moderate stances, Mormon religious background, and the fact that he remains largely unknown outside of his home state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/us/politics/20huntsman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=todayspaper

[Tender Branson]

Sorry, but I don't see Huntsman going anywhere.

If anywhere, he should go back to China.

[Paul Kemp]

This isn't his year for the nomination. If the GOP candidate was to win, I think he would be a strong contender for Secretary of State.

[angus]

The Obama White House has some serious concerns about the threat a Huntsman candidacy for the Republican nomination could pose for the President's reelection aspirations. Apparently, the President's top political aides worry that Huntsman would make a very formidable candidate due to his strong governing record in Utah, moderate positions on many issues, wealthy background, youth, as well as his connections through his family. All of which were  main reasons they offered him the ambassadorship to China in hopes that he wouldn't challenge the administration in any way. Although many within Obama's circle have strong doubts that he will become the Republican nominee due to his moderate stances, Mormon religious background, and the fact that he remains largely unknown outside of his home state.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/us/politics/20huntsman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=todayspaper

He is all things to all people.  To centrists, he is moderate, to hard-line traditionalists, he is conservative, and to plutocrats, he is a rightist.  It's easy enough to be all things to all people when you're not even officially running.  Let's see how long his campaign spinmeisters can keep it up once he actually starts running for president.  True, if he survives a GOP primary, he may prove a formidable opponent to the president, but to survive that primary you pretty much have to have that "Who is Jon Huntsman?" moment.  And during that moment, "whatever you want him to be" will not be the kind of answer that will win him the votes of Republican primary voters.

[A dog on every car, a car in every elevator]

Mitt Romney is a Mormon and his signature piece of legislation was the model for Obama's signature piece of legislation.  But he's avoided the politically fatal mistake Huntsman has already made: praising Obama.

[Grumps]

I believe they do fear him.....maybe they know something we don't

[MOPolitico]

While I support Huntsman's candidacy, I don't see a way that he can win the primary. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that he wins the New Hampshire primary. Then what? He seems unlikely to win South Carolina, and it will be difficult for him to defeat Mitt Romney in Michigan. He could skip those two states (like he did Iowa) and campaign in Florida, and hope that a victory there would give him enough momentum to keep going until Super Tuesday, where he could conceivably win a few states on the East and West coasts, but this seems like an unlikely path to the nomination. On the other hand, I think Huntsman knows all this, and is simply trying to increase name recognition and support for another bid in 2016 (he's on 51). Which, in my opinion, is smart.

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Good to know someone take Huntsman seriously... now, if there were only Republican primary voters, he'd be happy

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Also, I fail to see why would the White House fear Huntsman in general election. It would be so easy to destroy his credibility as opponent by reminding his past within the very same administration.

Something like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gNRDXjsL-4

[milhouse24]

I suppose Obama already sidelined Huntsman with such a late start campaigning.  If Huntsman was serious, he never would have taken the China job.  It seems more and more likely he is waiting until 2016.  I actually think he should run for the senate even if it is for only one term.

[TheGlobalizer]

Disagree with all of the comments here.  Huntsman has a tough road to the nomination for a few reasons (Mormon, civil unions, past support for cap-and-trade), but I don't think it's as much of a longshot as some believe.  I also think his path has gotten easier with T-Paw's shrinking violet routine.

And personally, I think Huntsman would steamroll Obama in the general.

[milhouse24]

Disagree with all of the comments here.  Huntsman has a tough road to the nomination for a few reasons (Mormon, civil unions, past support for cap-and-trade), but I don't think it's as much of a longshot as some believe.  I also think his path has gotten easier with T-Paw's shrinking violet routine.

And personally, I think Huntsman would steamroll Obama in the general.

I think Huntsman has a stronger conservative support than T-Paw, but Huntsman still has low name recognition and support from Independents.  Romney, being from Massachusetts, is well known to secular/catholic independent voters who are worried about the economy.  Being from Utah, Huntsman may be unfairly labeled as too Mormon for Independents, and he would also be untrusted by evangelicals for that reason.  Huntsman plan would be to become a younger mini-me version of Romney since both will receive limited support from evangelicals.  But Huntsman may be able to win Nevada primaries. 

As for the general election, Huntsman would need help to win Ohio and the mid-Atlantic States. 

[Prez Duke]

They shouldnt worry too much. If he makes it through the primary, I'd start sweating, but chances Huntsman does is small unless Romney drops out. His candidacy, while I support it, only splits the sane vote in the GOP primary. I'm beginning to think Bachmann is the dark horse in this race. She could fill Palin's footsteps.

[NHI]

Nothing to fear with Huntsman. The nomination race will come down to Romney and Bachmann, and Romney will top it.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Huntsman is not winning the GOP nom, but the GOP race is still open for others.

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The biggest whole in Huntsman is the fact that he is losing Utah to Romney by a wide margin. Its late, so it doesn't matter, but it kind of weakens his base to not have your own state behind you, especially when you such a popular governor there. It speaks to the actions he took in in 2008 and 2009 that probably permenently destroyed his relationship with conservative activists in the state.

Because of that, I agree that he might play for NV. Its earlier, conservatives aren't aware of what went on across the border in UT, and its a state where the GOP base is heavily mormon.

I also agree that it seems weird for them to worry about Hunstman when he is probably the easiest to destroy before he gets started even, except maybe Gingrich, the masterpiece of self-destruction.

[TheGlobalizer]

FFS, this guy just announced today, let's give him some time to ramp up and then start building caskets.

[milhouse24]

As an individual, Huntsman seems like a good candidate from a red state, so he is seen as a solid republican.  But in order to beat Romney he has to get the evangelicals on his side, which likely won't happen.

It will be interesting to see how he polls among GOP voters.  I can see some GOP voters who distrust Romney to support Huntsman.

[t_host1]

From what I heard today of his speech/announcement, I'm thinking the WH is saying 'good job" jon.