The rumors surrounding a Huntsman candidacy have continued to swirl, so much so that the White House is now leaking about his potential resignation. From Tapper:
White House officials tell ABC News that the Obama administration expects the US Ambassador to China, former GOP Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, to step down from his post in the coming months to explore a possible 2012 run for president. …
At the Gridiron dinner Saturday night, White House Chief of Staff William Daley joked that President Obama “has no hard feelings,” a White House source noted. “He just did an interview with the Tea Party Express about how integral he has been to the success of the Obama administration.”
From POLITICO:
For all their quips, Obama officials are a tad irritated at the barely-veiled presidential moves of their own ambassador in one of the most important countries in the world.
But the appointment of Huntsman was, in the first place, unmistakably political. With senior Obama advisers openly fretting about the prospect of facing off against a telegenic, wealthy, center-right Republican, shipping him off to Beijing was hailed as a savvy play.
The White House seems to want to force a Huntsman resignation sooner rather then later, but doesn’t seem ready to go to the lengths of firing him.
UPDATE: Gibbs confirms Huntsman’s departure:
The White House has begun seeking out replacements for Ambassador Jon Huntsman, the administration’s envoy to China who is considering a run for president in 2012, press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday.
“That’s a process that has begun,” Gibbs told reporters in his daily briefing, confirming that Huntsman has told the White House that “he plans to leave during the first part of this year.”
January 31st, 2011 at 9:55 am
I don’t think Obama has any more to fear form Huntsman than from any other Republican nominee.
The person who will be most damaged by his decision to run would be Romney.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:06 am
The White House and Huntsman both have to play a delicate balancing act. If Huntsman is goes too much for running for President, it’ll get him fired. Yet, if he doesn’t run, then Obama’s people look petty for going after him.
Honestly, I hope Huntsman, if he decides to run, does resign soon just to clear the air. This kabuki dance is just as bad as the “will so-and-so run or not?”
January 31st, 2011 at 10:10 am
I think a harsh Obama critic from within the Administration who can’t simply be labeled a ‘teabagger’ by the press could be a strong contender.
I actually think he hurts Pawlenty, Thune, and the other lesser known candidates more, as he is one more person who will suck up oxygen. Romney is not really impacted unless Huntsman survives Iowa.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:17 am
Max:
I don’t see Huntsman as an Iowa contender; he seems like a much better fit for New Hampshire (fiscally conservative w/o the Romneycare issue and relatively centrist on social issues). If Hunstman is going to knock off Romney, it’ll be in a one-two punch in New Hampshire and Nevada.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:24 am
I know herman caine is officially in 2012 but as soon as February starts will we me seeing more 2012 Kickoff announcements or is everyone Delaying it longer including the big names ? Is everyone delaying it because obama has not officially announce 2012 I am beginning to wonder?
January 31st, 2011 at 10:27 am
I am COMPLETELY shocked the dnc has not announced there Convention city yet by the way !
January 31st, 2011 at 10:31 am
Huntsman has the potential, I think, to drain off some of the Mormon money, and hamper Romney’s organizing efforts out west.
Huntsman probably can’t win the nomination, because he ISN’T that good of a match for Iowa, and New Hampshire doesn’t really need anyone new to run to be happy (between Romney, Palin, Gingrich, Pawlenty, etc)….but he could make things difficult for Romney.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:31 am
I would guess Charlotte or Cleveland
January 31st, 2011 at 10:33 am
Huntsman needs only to run the McCain path, with a big win in New Hampshire and a plurality in South Carolina.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:34 am
honestly, I think Gingrich is the one who could really upset the balance of power in this race – but maybe not in the way people think.
Thats a preview for an article I’m writing…probably get it finished htis week, if the weather helps out by giving me a day off.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:36 am
“with a big win in New Hampshire”
And how does he do that? McCain was basically the only alternative in 2000, and had a loyal base in 2008. New Hampshireites aren’t that dissatisfied with Romney over healthcare to abandon him in droves, and even if they were, there are half a dozen other candidates higher on the list (including Palin and Pawlenty) of acceptable candidates before you get to Huntsman.
If anything, he is an anti-mitt spoiler in the west.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:39 am
Matthew:
I would agree that Hunstman is probably not likely to win, but he could definitely wreak havoc in the primaries. He’s wealthy enough to self-finance and his relatively broad resume could let him at least be considered a 2nd choice by a lot of people.
Huntsman could play the McCain role in 2012. He’s mavericky on social issues, is pretty good on foreign policy, and he probably appeals to independents more than he does to Republicans. It worked for McCain in 2008 (under unusual circumstances), it might work for Huntsman in 2012.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:41 am
Round 1 on 2012 announcements we are looking at the lesser known names to announce first correct?
January 31st, 2011 at 10:42 am
does huntsman has at least at chance to land on a vp list?
January 31st, 2011 at 10:45 am
I think Huntsman is going into this race, should he go in, as a lower-level candidate. McCain ran in 2000 as the primary alternaitve (almost the Romney of 2000, although on the opposite side of hte political divide)…then he was the frontrunner in 2008.
Like I said, and it seems you agree, while I think he could make Romney’s job a lot more difficult (or, conversely, perhaps he would simply make it harder for Pawlenty or the like to become the main challenger to the top-tier), but I don’t see him even staying on the ballot into the primaries.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:45 am
I think the Republicans voters are going to get so confused about the number of candidates that we eventually get Palin as our nominee.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:47 am
“does huntsman has at least at chance to land on a vp list?”
Only for Huckabee. Romney needs a southerner, Palin needs an eastern moderate, and gingrich would need someone younger.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:50 am
Max Twain – I’m not convinced Huntsman can go the full McCain route. Neo-con / military voters played a big role in McCain’s candidacy – a bigger role than I think a lot of people realize. Looking at the candidates from 2008, McCain was the only one who actively fought for the issues they cared about.
That said – Huntsman is a nice looking candidate on paper. Has the private sector experience, has the governmental experience, and can criticize Obama from a perspective that no other candidate could relate. Plus, with a growing China, having his experience is a boon. A lot of people like to say he’s Romney without Romney-Care around his neck, and I don’t think that’s a bad comparison. Them releasing the hounds on him already sounds like they want to quell his candidacy early on.
January 31st, 2011 at 10:55 am
Matthew N:
I think the catalyst for McCain to start rising in the polls was the Bhutto assassination basically a week before the Iowa Caucuses. It refocused the debate back on foreign affairs, which was McCain’s strong suit. With the turmoil going on in the Middle East, foreign policy might once again be suddenly thrust up as an important issue. That could help Hunstman become a strong, viable, McCain-like candidate.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:00 am
just curious would any be shocked if we went through February and have NO 2012 jumping in announcements? it seems to me these candidates are waiting for obama to officially announce? Hillary how long till she has to decide something i still think she jumps in ?
January 31st, 2011 at 11:04 am
There is a base of conservatives that hate Romney in New Hampshire, lead by the Union Leader and other influential newspapers. The Leader has already been flirting with Pawlenty, but with the McCain team in tow, Huntsman could swing those important local endorsements in New Hampshire and become the McCain 08 of 2012.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:14 am
is huntsman a kind of candidate that needs to decide as soon as he hands his resignation letter to obama to get his name known more before the more known candidates announce maybe a john thune is in the same boat in this regard??
January 31st, 2011 at 11:24 am
#22 – To be sure, Romney faces opposition in New Hampshire, just as all candidates do in all areas, but I don’t see the same circumstances existing in 2012 as existed in 2008. For one, it is much easier to establish an “anti-________” candidacy when you are running as the base favorite trying to take down a moderate. This is why Romney was able to do so well in 2008 agianst McCain, because the frontrunner was seen to break so strongly with the Conservative base. Romeny is far more Conservative than McCain, and where he breaks from Conservatives is confined primarily to healthcare. If there is a strong Conservative candidate around whom the dissatisfied Conservatives can group, that man is not Huntsman. no way.
Second, While Romney was the most high-profile opposition candidate in 2008, that is not a role Huntsman fills. Even if we were to lump Romney/Palin/Huckabee together as an elite top tier out of touch with what the party really wanted (similar to the Giuliani/McCain pairing last time), you would have to wind down through the list of Santorum, Barbour, Pawlenty, possibly Demint, all before you got to Huntsman.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:33 am
I always thought Obama trying to get rid of Huntsman by shipping him off to China was too cute by half. Now, Obama has just assured he’s got a rival with foreign policy experience as well as a background governing a state, and doing so successfully by all reports.
What will Huntsman’s strategy be? Well, it seems significant that he’s hired a couple of consultants from FL. So: skip Iowa, come in second in New Hampshire, win Nevada, aim for a plurality (close to the top if possible) in South Carolina, win Florida. Puts him in a good place on Super Tuesday.
Look at the issues he’s moderate on: immigration, climate change and relations with China. This issue package should sound very familiar from 2008.
Of course, how’s a guy who just spent two years working for Obama going to play in a Tea-party-dominated Republican primary?
January 31st, 2011 at 11:35 am
Re: Huntsman as a VP: he would also complement Tim Pawlenty pretty well. Foreign policy background to balance TPaw’s domestic focus, and it’s hard to argue Huntsman isn’t ready on day 1. It’s a competence ticket, and it could play pretty well.
January 31st, 2011 at 11:38 am
I see hunts man is not showing any of his cards but Decision #1 on him When would he have to make his 1st decision and that is stepping down from obama white house whould have to be made by what around 4th of July time frame?
January 31st, 2011 at 12:08 pm
HUNTSMAN is pulling a former Arkansas lt gov bill halter here, just dumb, dumb, dumb for him to jump into this race. Halter got ego fever and thought he was the cat’s meow and challenged Sen Lincoln in the dem primary, didn’t work out to well for him. I think huntsman making noise might have more to do with his disdain of romney than anything else cause politically its foolish for him to run but if he wants to roast his political career, go ahead.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:21 pm
It will be interesting to see who McCain endorses if Huntsman enters. Huntsman endorsed him in ’08, but Romney campaigned for him and then endorsed him in ’10. And let’s not forget Palin, but I still don’t think she will run.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:22 pm
In my opinion, Junior needs a gold medal in New Hampshire or Nevada. And if he gets them both, Romney drops out, of course.
Huntsman’s early success is very possible with the team he’s assembled guiding him.
A top four in Iowa is the first step.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:41 pm
There is no downside for Huntsman to run. The notion that it is dumb doesn’t hold water. Three easy reasons it’s a winning idea for him:
1) 2012 is a much easier landscape then 2016: Huntsman may be an underdog against Romney and Palin, but he would be have no chance against Bush, Rubio, Pence, Jindal and Christie in 2016. With such a wide open 2012 field, Huntsman will have a much clearer path to the nomination now rather then later.
2) GOP nominates the next in line: If the GOP continues this tradition of hierarchical nominations, then Huntsman would need to run now to position himself for 2016.
3) Governor + foreign policy + a billion dollars: Huntsman is unique in that he is a governor, which the GOP base prefers, who also has foreign policy experience. In a field where foreign policy cred is lacking, Huntsman would stand alone as ready on day 1 on the international stage. Add to this Huntsman’s huge financial resources, and all bets are off.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I think obama should fire huntsman. Or if i was gonna be diplomatic about it, tell him we want a commitment right now, either you give 100% assurance to serve out until the remainder of obama’s term as ambassador or go clean out your desk.
January 31st, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Anyone read the article? He’s worth a BILLION DOLLARS!!!! Money work’s wonders……
January 31st, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Plus he was governor of one of the most conservative states (utah) and he has tremendous foreign policy experience (ambassador to china). Never thought of him as a candidate, but he seems better than the crop of people we have now.
The only downfall is working for Obama, but I wouldn’t even classify that as a close affiliation. And it’s no worse that Romney with Romneycare.
January 31st, 2011 at 1:19 pm
If Obama were to fire Huntsman after all the praise he’s lavished on him, it would hurt Obama and help Huntsman. Aside from the wealth and connections and staff, Huntsman’s biggest asset going into a campaign is himself.
Put him on a debate stage and see what happens. Cream rises to the top.
BTW, I’m still a Romney guy, so I hope Huntsman doesn’t run, but a part of me wants to see what would happen if he does.
January 31st, 2011 at 1:50 pm
yes, that is the downside to firing him & the reason it probably hasn’t or won’t happen. I’m sure obama could throw a few barbs at huntsman in the process of showing him the door though, ie calling him disloyal & unpatriotic. Huntsman is 50 years old, he has plenty of cycles to run, so i see no reason why he would jump the gun for this cycle.
January 31st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
I agree with this :
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/01/the-latest-huntsman-2012-news/70508
January 31st, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Because in 2012, the competition is a lot weaker than it would be in 2016. Aside from the obvious people (Rubio, Jindal, Christie), any of the, oh, fifteen or so new Republican governors could turn out to have serious star potential by 2016. This, IMO, is why so many candidates are announcing now for 12; while beating an incumbent president is hard, the field in 2016 could be even more crowded.
January 31st, 2011 at 3:55 pm
SOUNDS LIKE Jon huntsman to leave white house in 1st part of 2011 robert gibbs talked about it today it looks like http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0111/replacing_huntsman_39985424-7857-4738-ad80-69b614809fee.html
February 1st, 2011 at 8:31 am
[...] in 2012. (Well, except this guy who I think has a point.) Obama is apparently peeved and playing hardball. So what happens if there are two Mormons in the [...]
February 1st, 2011 at 11:55 am
What if Huntsman Sr. endorses Romney over his son, which I think he might do. That is how much Huntsman Sr. likes Mitt. I am sure he would clarify to his son before he decided to throw his hat in the ring. That wouldn’t look good,’and neither would it look good if Mitt was polling better than Huntsman in the state he governed.
February 1st, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Democrats are holding DNC convention in Charlotte.