Jon Huntsman to continue campaign, says he's headed to South Carolina

Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman shakes hands after speaking at an primary election night rally Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, in Manchester, N.H.

/ AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Updated: 9:42 p.m. ET

Coming off his strong projected third-place finish in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman plans to continue his campaign and compete in the January 21 primary in South Carolina, he confirmed Tuesday night.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think we're in the hunt!" Huntsman cried, in a speech to supporters following the primary. "I'd say third place is a ticket to ride... Hello, South Carolina!"

"We proved the point that this state wants its candidates to earn [success] the old-fashioned way - that's on the ground, handshake by handshake, conversation by conversation, vote by vote," he said, exuberant before a cheering crowd. "We got it done, ladies and gentlemen!"

Huntsman, who skipped the Iowa caucuses, was counting on a strong finish in Tuesday night's contest to boost his long-shot presidential bid. While some observers predicted that the candidate would need a second-place win to move forward in the race, Huntsman on Tuesday made it clear that he would soldier on to the Palmetto state where.

Earlier in the evening, Huntsman attempted to paint himself as the anti-Romney Republican -- a tack he will almost certainly take in South Carolina -- positing in an interview with CNN that he, not the former Massachusetts governor, has what it takes to beat President Obama in the general election.

"The people of South Carolina will be looking for exactly what the people of New Hampshire have been looking for and that's electability," he said. "That's somebody who's going to be able to stand for the issues that are going to carry us to victory ultimately, be able to address the trust deficit and the economic deficit."

Not, he added pointedly, "talk about the enjoyment of firing people or about pink slips in a way that they'll get tripped up by the DNC and by the Chicago machine that has a billion dollars behind it."

Huntsman was referring to Romney, Tuesday night's victor, who recently took heat from his Republican rivals for commenting that he "like[s] being able to fire people" during remarks about the importance of being able to choose between health care providers.

When it was pointed out to him that the Romney "fire people" comment was taken out of context, Huntsman added that Romney was not immune to such practices himself.

"We understand, I think his campaign also took something out of context recently," Huntsman said, referring to a November Romney ad that quoted President Obama misleadingly. "That happens in politics."

Huntsman said Republicans needed to nominate a candidate that would be able to deal with the Obama team and "to make sure that we've got a messenger, whoever that happens to be, who can take it all the way to the end in ways that really does build trust among the American people."

Huntsman said his campaign was in "a solid, comfortable, confident position."

"We go South from here," he said.

17 Photos

New Hampshire primary night scenes

[_Liann_]

There is not one single fact on record which confirms or refutes how many jobs were created and how many were lost by Bain record with 100 companies, 1/3rd of which were bankrupted.

Basically it is a POLITICIAN saying "TRUST ME", or rather it is the steady non-flip-flopper Mitt Romney, saying "TRUST ME, THE IS THE REAL TRUTH". Since when does anybody trust Romney, or trust politicians.

The guy hides his tax returns, which will send him to prison if he releases them, because his tax returns claims NH home (where there is no state income tax) but he is registered to vote in Massachusetts (which has an income tax). Tax fraud is more serious than voter fraud, but even voter fraud gets republicans into a frenzy this year.

TRUST ME, says Mitt. TRUST BUT VERIFY said Reagan.

Mitt Romney has no jobs creations ON RECORD. Until the facts of the matter are placed in public domain, there are no created jobs on record. ZERO. NONE. NADA. ZILCH.

[Lindag10]

I thought this dude had more sense than the other Republicans until I listened to his drivel on how he'd create jobs. If he thinks talking to the CEO's of large companies and asking them to create jobs in the US in exchange for his promise to try to lower their taxes will get them to create jobs in the US, he's incredibly naive. Offering lower taxes to companies that pay little or NO taxes on profits is more of the usual Repblican mantra that lower taxes create jobs. After so many years of that ANYONE can see it DOESN'T work. Demand creates jobs, not lower taxes.

[lloydbest1]

""Ladies and gentlemen, I think we're in the hunt!" Huntsman cried, in a speech to supporters following the primary. "I'd say third place is a ticket to ride... Hello, South Carolina!""

According to Chris Morrisey of CNN Jon Huntsman is basically toast. I an inclined to agree with that assessment.

First off, he's going deep into the heart of Santorum territory. Mr. Santorum is basically running on a theocracy ticket which suits The Gulf States (Florida the possible exception) and North and South Carolina fine. Huntsman does not give off the vibe of being a holy roller; while that's fine in New Hampshire and maybe Iowa (probably should have campaigned there), that won't set so well with much of the deep south electorate.

Next, he's a Mormon - Just like Romney. I have been reading all about how anyone from the LDS stands no chance of being elected to the White House. I'm not convinced of the unelectability of Mormons in general and he doesn't seem to beat people over the head with his faith, but fair or not - that general perception that being a Mormon is a liability IS out there. And it WILL hurt him.

But the worst knock against Mr. Huntsman is his liberalism. He's a liberal. No, folks, Lloyd has not gone off his rocker (too much), but given how far right the modern Republican party has drifted; Jon H. is, by today's standards, a flaming socalist when compared to his GOP opponents. At the risk of digression I might also mention that it is a sobering commentary on American society in general that someone with Jon Huntsman's politicals views could even be considered near-right, let alone liberal. Thirty years ago he would be considered a centrist to conservative Republican; today he is way too far left to be tolerated by the ruling GOP hierarchy.

It's too bad, too. As I have mentioned in previous posts, with the right running mate, Huntsman has that combination of having teh best chance of beating the "O" man this fall and, at the same time the best likelihood of all of those now in the race of being able to keep America from falling apart - should he defy odds and run the table.

[rsamps1]

Romney, Romney, he's our man! If he can't do it, no Republicon can!
Just need some more working-man style collared shirts & a bunch of teleprompters- talking impromptu leads to far too many flip flops!

[Torqued22]

Jumped right over Ron Paul's second place finish in this article. It is going to really suck for the GOP, if Ron Paul isn't on the ballot in November, and ALL of us Ron Paul supporters vote for Barack Hussein Obama, as a PROTEST vote, PAYBACK for the STAB in THE BACK by the Republican Party, for endorsing the Mainstream Media's sabatage of the 2012 Ron Paul Campaign. Spoiler NOT, we CAN INSURE IT! Wouldn't that suck?
A vote for Romney, Gingrich, Perry, Santorum, Huntsman is the same as a vote for Obama anyways, so why waste a vote?
It is time to remove all the stops and get down right DIRTY, just like the GOP and MSM does!!
Serves you right GOP, for the dishonorable, disrespectful treatment of one-of-your-own.... a 12 term REPUBLICAN Congressman!!
IT IS a very GOOD time to change your tune GOP.
Ron Paul 2012!

[dayofrageindc]

If people knew and understood the philosophical consistency and intellectual depth of Dr. Ron Paul and studied the books of the people from whom he draws his principles, the election would be over and America would be saved.

Although Dr. Paul is sometimes accused of being a Randian, this is a lie. While he mentions her, and what libertarian wouldn't, he actually draws his beliefs from John Locke, Ludwig Von Mises, Murray Rothbard, Hans Hermann Hoppe, Carl Menger, F.A. Hayek, Randolph Bourne, Lew Rockwell, Raimondo, and others of the Austrian school. When he was asked what book Americans should read he replied, "Bastiat's 'The Law.'" What other candidate for political office in the history of the United States ever had the nerve to propose that the U.S. government ought to be BOUND by law?

It is an American shame that most people are ignorant of the arguments these individuals have made for liberty and free markets. Their writings are kept from the American people and our educational establishment so the media can be left to frame debate and manufacture consent for elitist rule. This censorship and media filtering is a form of thought control.


The ruling class knows it is better off if Americans are divided and spend their time arguing about gay marriage and flag lapel pins as opposed to understanding economic dynamics and demanding a lawful government.

Americans, I beg you. Please educate yourself and discover the questions that need to be asked. Learn how genius economists, statesmen and philosophers have advanced the arguments for liberty and free markets. Read how they have answered questions regarding liberty, peace, property rights and prosperity after having made the study of economics, history, war, government, philosophy, religion and liberty a lifetime endeavor.

When people understand that all other politicians are statists and corporatists, except for Ron Paul who champions the individual, their choice for whom to elect as president will be made clear. What other candidate authored books like "Liberty Defined", "A Foreign Policy of Freedom", "The Revolution, A Manifesto", "Freedom Under Seige" and "Pillars of Prosperity"? What other candidate would mention Bastiat's "The Law" on national television? The guy is a true revolutionary for liberty.

When you understand the argument you will finally understand Ron Paul.

[jonnyohio2]

Dear Jon Huntsman, if you are really for trust in the government and bringing our troops home from Afghanistan, please resign from the race and back Ron Paul.

[singlemom2012]

Great.. the true color of Huntsman. He proved that he is a Democratic and follows Obama greatly. He is very sad of the advts by Romney on Obama and gave it as the reason for his attack on Romney. See Huntsman dubious comment below:
"We understand, I think his campaign also took something out of context recently," Huntsman said, referring to a November Romney ad that quoted President Obama misleadingly." "That happens in politics."