Jon Huntsman campaigns in Fla., but looks to N.H.

Utah Gov. and GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman

/ AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - On the same day his campaign announced it is shifting resources from this state to New Hampshire, Republican presidential contender Jon Huntsman told voters here Friday that Florida remains crucial to his plans for vaulting out of the back of the GOP pack.

"Obviously, Florida is critically important," Huntsman told about 30 members of the Republican Jewish Coalition at a meeting here. "We're not only here, but we're here in a very big way."

Even so, Huntsman has decided not to play the straw poll set to take place at Presidency 5, a big Florida Republican gathering Sept. 22-24 in Orlando. In a statement Friday, Huntsman campaign manager Matt David said the decision to move staff from Florida to New Hampshire is "reflective of the diminished importance of Florida's 'P5.'"

That raised hackles among some Florida Republicans. "His campaign is redefining irony today," said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the Florida Republican Party, told the Palm Beach Post. Hughes noted that rival GOP candidate Rick Perry, "who is leading in the polls," called P5 crucial to his strategy.

For Huntsman, New Hampshire looms as MORE crucial. He described it to voters here as the first step in his "three-state strategy," which sees him hopscotching from the Granite State to South Carolina and then Florida.

"With your support, your network, your contributions, we can drive this thing home, and it's going to happen first and foremost in New Hampshire," he said.

16 Photos

Jon Huntsman's political rise

But the ex-Utah governor insisted that "this crazy Huntsman guy" can still win Florida, where he established his campaign headquarters in Orlando - his wife's hometown. His shift towards New Hampshire comes amid signs that his campaign is undergoing a major shakeup.

State Sen. Ellyn Bogandoff, who co-chaired the outreach to Jewish voters in 2008 for GOP presidential nominee John McCain, gave Huntsman a warm introduction, saying that he is "the best candidate for our country."

In his remarks to his audience here, Huntsman emphasized his foreign policy experience. Most recently President Obama's ambassador to Beijing, he cited his fluency in the Chinese language and added that he has been mobbed by Chinese tourists.

"I'm known by the wrong quarter of the world's population," quipped Huntsman, who has not been able to get out of single digits in national polls. Huntsman, who has taken some heat for his work in the Obama administration, went out of his way to mention another former employer: President Ronald Reagan.

Despite the success of the Tea Party movement and its adherents (such as Perry), Huntsman insisted that his efforts to appeal to centrist voters will pay off.

"We're going to recreate that broad, big tent for the Republican Party needed to succeed - the kind of big tent that Ronald Reagan was able to create," he told a reporter for CBS and National Journal. "You've got to appeal not only to Republicans - you've got to appeal to independents as well. And I did that as governor, and we're going to do that as a candidate."

[AOCGUY]

I could seriously see me voting for Huntsman if I were to get the chance, but that is not likely. Unfortuantely for the GOP the extreme Tea Party influence will most likley drive a nomination of someone like Rick Perry who is most probaly exactly what he proports to be. At least in the case of Romney, who is all hat no horse, as far as the Tea Party goes, once elected, he will slide to the middle. With Hunstman we already know he is in the midlle.

What this country really needs is a President that is willing (and more importantly able) to work both sides of the aisle and be able to disagreeing parties to come to an agreement. Along with that we need a Congress that is willing to work and compromise with their counterparts on the opposite side. We do not have that now.


Should Rick Perry get elected, unless the Dems lose the Senate by a large margin you can kiss off any progress i Washington.

[FoundersCBS1791]

The contest "for now" is Between Perry and Romney, assuming Sarah Palin does not get into the race. Then all bets are off.

Romney WILL LOSE just like he did in 2008. RINOism won't fly in 2012
Huntsman IS A LOSER. Has already FAILED. Will not win SQUAT
Bachmann SINKING faster than Obama. Will not win SQUAT
Santorum, Cain, etc...lost causes. Will not win SQUAT

It is going to be a Rick Perry nominee so long as Sarah Palin stays out. Bet on it!

[bobbyboobee]

Hey let's not knock Perry and his Tea Party cohorts that don't believe in evolution. They're right. Just look at Rick Perry. He's a racist, a bigot, homophobic, and loves to wave his gun in the air and it doesn't bother him the slightest bit that Texas probably executed an innocent man or two under his watch. Rick Perry himself is a perfect example and absolute proof that evolution is a myth.

[FoundersCBS1791]

You chose the correct handle.....adolescent comes to mind.

[retiredgustav]

The only way Huntsman stands a chance is if they catch Rick Perry in bed with a dead woman or a live boy.

[vpcharan]

Mr. Huntsman is no where in the polls. His prospects of winning the nomination is as good as for Ms. Palin or Bachman. Any way, whatever money Huntsman and Bachman are spending is good for the economy of the states. Keep up pumping the local economy.

[bankersvox]

Who is backing this guy ??? The big media. And Democrats. there is no grass roots enthusiasm for this patrician RINO.

That is why he was on CNN for two whole hours with puffy questions.

[tcwolfe]

If Jon Huntsman wants to have the big tent then he ought to stop insulting people who do not believe in evolution and that any one who doesn't is anti-science. He also has it in his head that 98% of the scientists believe in global warming. If he is so off the mark in this simple statement of fact, as well as bigoted regarding people who don't believe as he does, then why does he deserve my vote. Or yours.

[RunsWithWolves]

FYI, Huntsman is the only Republican with a few brain cells. Evolution is a fact now. Global warming accelerated by mans burning fossil fuels is also a fact. Go back and live in the Dark Ages if you want.

[tcwolfe]

If Jon Huntsman wants to have the big tent then he ought to stop insulting people who do not believe in evolution and that any one who doesn't is anti-science. He also has it in his head that 98% of the scientists believe in global warming. If he is so off the mark in this simple statement of fact, as well as bigoted regarding people who don't believe as he does, then why does he deserve my vote. Or yours.

[eteamer]

I predict Huntsman will be thier man. No of the others have a snowballs chance in Texas of beating OBAMA.

[bankersvox]

Bachman won in Iowa. She is smart , articulate, knows business, and cogent.


Why is CBS reporting on this propped up non candidate with no public backing-- other than big money and the media -o00pps. Could the reason be he is a plant by the Democrats and the media ??? Who supports this guy ????

[dzaffina]

"Bachman won in Iowa. She is smart , articulate, knows business, and cogent" .....well she knows how to milk the government teat, I'll give you that.

[dzaffina]

"Could the reason be he is a plant by the Democrats and the media ???"....yea thats it...and he speakes chinesee too....we need to see his birth certificate...the long form