Campaign2012

Jon Huntsman

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The scion of a hyper-wealthy family and former two-term Republican governor from one of the reddest states in the union, Huntsman has made a surprising habit of sometimes bucking the establishment.

Huntsman did so again when he accepted the nomination as U.S. ambassador to China offered by Democratic President Obama. A former deputy assistant secretary of Commerce for East Asia and the Pacific and ex-U.S. ambassador to Singapore, Huntsman learned to speak Mandarin while on Mormon mission to Taiwan during college. He used his language skills to great effect while leading trade trips to China as governor.

Distinguishing himself from the pack is nothing new for Huntsman. Two years after flouting religious and familial allegiances to endorse Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president over fellow Mormon Mitt Romney (R) in the 2008 presidential primary, the reliably conservative Huntsman finds himself under fire from his own base for shifting rhetoric on same-sex unions.

Meanwhile, the former Utah governor has gone on record as trashing the performance of congressional Republicans and in 2009, welcoming with open arms the very stimulus dollars that fellow GOP governors threatened to reject.

Key Campaign Moments for Huntsman

July 21, 2011

Huntsman campaign manager resigns

July 21, 2011
Huntsman campaign manager resigns

After a lackluster start, Huntsman campaign manager Susie Wiles resigned and was replaced by communications director Matt David. Staff shuffles are never a good sign, and the Huntsman campaign had failed to catch fire at this point in the campaign battle.
June 21, 2011

Huntsman announces presidential bid

June 21, 2011
Huntsman announces presidential bid

On June 21, 2011, Huntsman officially launched his White House bid in Jersey City with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop Tuesday morning, setting up a campaign for the GOP nomination that, if successful, would lead to a matchup against his former boss.
May 7, 2011

Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China, tests a 2012 presidential candidacy

May 7, 2011
Jon Huntsman, former ambassador to China, tests a 2012 presidential candidacy

Huntsman tests his political message in his first outing after leaving the Obama administration.
February 1, 2011

Jon Huntsman resigns from Obama administration

February 1, 2011
Jon Huntsman resigns from Obama administration

Huntsman announces he's leaving his post as Obama's ambassador to China, where Democrats thought he would safely sit out a 2012 presidential race.

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Huntsman on Issues

Economic policy

Would raise the debt ceiling as long as there was corresponding cuts in spending, and wants to consider a balanced-budget amendment. A former Bush Commerce...

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Jon Huntsman on Economic policy
Would raise the debt ceiling as long as there was corresponding cuts in spending, and wants to consider a balanced-budget amendment. A former Bush Commerce under secretary, overhauled Utah's tax code as governor, instituting flat-tax of 5 percent and $30 million in tax incentives for industries like renewable energy.
- Article: Tax Reform Defined Huntsman's Governorship
In His Own Words

I would vote to increase the debt limit if there was a corresponding level of cuts. And if there was some serious talk about a balanced budget amendment, which we as governors always had to deal with.
Jon Huntsman, May 20, 2011
Energy policy

As governor, supported regional cap-and-trade system aimed and encouraged energy-efficient vehicles and renewable fuels. Reversed course on cap-and-trade...

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Jon Huntsman on Energy policy
As governor, supported regional cap-and-trade system aimed and encouraged energy-efficient vehicles and renewable fuels. Reversed course on cap-and-trade in 2011, saying it hasn't worked and these are tougher economic times.
- Article: Jon Huntsman: The Potential Republican Presidential Candidate Democrats Most Fear-
In His Own Words

It hasn't worked and our economy's in a different place than five years ago
Jon Huntsman, May 12, 2011
Foreign Policy

Obama's former ambassador to China, says a drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is inevitable, but hasn't said when that should occur. Opposed U.S...

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Jon Huntsman on Foreign Policy
Obama's former ambassador to China, says a drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is inevitable, but hasn't said when that should occur. Opposed U.S. military intervention in Libya because of cost.
- Article: Huntsman tests the waters carefully
In His Own Words

We have to evaluate very carefully our presence in Afghanistan. And my inclination would be to say that it is a heavy and very expensive presence we have on the ground...what we have in Afghanistan today is not consistent with how we ought to be responding.
Jon Huntsman, May 20, 2011
Health Care

Favors repeal of the 2010 health-care law. As governor, signed a health-reform law in 2008 that he favorably compares to the Massachussets plan under...

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Jon Huntsman on Health Care
Favors repeal of the 2010 health-care law. As governor, signed a health-reform law in 2008 that he favorably compares to the Massachussets plan under Romney, which didn't include individual mandates, anathema to many conservatives, and established a health-insurance exchange aimed at helping small businesses provide coverage to employees
- Article: Huntsman Was For Health Care Mandate Before He Was Against It
In His Own Words

If I had a chance to repeal [2010 health-care reform], I would. But then you have to say what goes in its place, and I think the answer to that is look at what all the states are doing.
Jon Huntsman, May 20, 2011
Medicare Reform

In May 2011, clearly stated he would've voted for Ryan budget if he were in House, contending that bold proposals need to be considered because of the...

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Jon Huntsman on Medicare Reform
In May 2011, clearly stated he would've voted for Ryan budget if he were in House, contending that bold proposals need to be considered because of the burgeoning federal deficit.
- Blog post: Huntsman, the Moderate, Endorses Ryan Medicare Plan
In His Own Words

We’ve got to be bold, and we’ve got to have, I think, proposals on the table that perhaps in years past would’ve been laughed out of the room. And we’ve got to look seriously at them. We don’t have a choice. We’ve hit the wall.
Jon Huntsman, May 20, 2011
Social Issues

Against abortion rights, making illegal as governor second-trimester abortions, informing women about fetal pain before undergoing the procedure and creating...

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Jon Huntsman on Social Issues
Against abortion rights, making illegal as governor second-trimester abortions, informing women about fetal pain before undergoing the procedure and creating legal defense fund to defend a state abortion-ban campaign. In 2007, endorsed civil unions and legal rights for cohabitating homosexuals.
- Blog post: Huntsman's Position on Gay Rights are Within the GOP Mainstream
In His Own Words

I believe in the traditional definition of marriage, but I also believe that we can do a better job in enhancing equal rights for more of our citizens.
Jon Huntsman, February 11, 2009

Huntsman Coverage

I’m sick and tired of the divisiveness and if I go down in defeat talking about it, so be it…I feel pretty passionately about it. We lack a sense of respect and humanity in our debates in this country.
London Daily MailJune 9, 2011
Look at my record. Labels and tags are going to be thrown around in politics; they always are. In some cases, you have to peek beneath the veneer. You have to look at one’s history and one’s record.
The Washington PostMay 20, 2011

I did serve President Obama. I served my president, my president asked me to serve, in a time of war, in a time of economic difficulty in this country. I’m the kind of person, when asked by my president to stand up and serve my country, when asked, I do it.
The Washington PostMay 20, 2011