The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza reports:
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman appears to be the momentum candidate in New Hampshire ahead of today’s Republican presidential primary vote.
Tracking polls conducted in the race show him moving up, he put in his best debate showing of the race thus far on Sunday, he’s up on television and he even won the endorsement of the Boston Globe in recent days.
The fight for second behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney now appears to be between Huntsman and Texas Rep. Ron Paul. So, Huntsman now seems set to overperform the (admittedly low) expectations for him in New Hampshire.
But can he turn a second- or third-place finish in the Granite State into any sort of momentum heading in South Carolina?
No, according to most seasoned Republican operatives who have spent considerable time working in Palmetto State politics…
It seems to us that former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, whom we’ve disclosed a bit of a regionalist soft spot for as well as admiration for holding to a (relatively) moderate message in a blood-red race to the right, really needs to beat Rep. Ron Paul–not to mention Rick Santorum–in order to compete effectively beyond tonight. If Huntsman can manage that, he could be strong enough to take his campaign beyond the freakishly unrepresentative right-wing South Carolina bloodbath and into Florida–and beyond, if he can own the next slot as the “Romney alternative.”
It’s a small window we admit, but it might possibly be fortuitous to be the last such “alternative.”
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(and never have.) Huntsman just doesn’t fit in the profile of the modern day Republican Presidential candidate. On most days of the week he’s willing to admit that scientific results have credibility, and he’s willing to work across the aisle and be nice. He’s also not aggressive enough to compete in the field.
Romney, his only competitor on the “moderate” end of the Republican spectrum, is willing to ditch all of that if it means winning the nomination – and has. That leaves Romney with no real integrity, but he’s been aggressive with his dishonesty enough to put him at the (comparatively low) top of the Republican heap.
he will abandon that scientific stuff and apparent moderation as soon as he sees benefit to it. His most realistic hope is that this campaign has developed some name recognition and apreciation by some independents so he can have a more meaningful shot in ’16. If he gains that appreciation from independents and moderate Rs then he might be encouraged to hold to science
Obama gets 4 more yrs but political divide further widens (especially if GOP gets Sen & House). Obstructionism stays the main GOP trick with Yertle & new Prince Cantor (orange man will be gone).
Supreme Court hogs the spotlight with HCR hearings. GOP & rightie media will be either rabidly convulsive in beating back lefty judicial activism or euphorically ecstatic seeing Roberts’ righties beat back healthcare progress.
Moderate GOPers across the country are gonna register Indie to distance themselves from the idiots & nuts further ruining the system. 2016 holds no promise for Hunstman. He didn’t fail in ’12 — the GOP electorate failed him.
You do remember this is the guy who was graciously appointed by a President of the opposite party, then quit his job early to try and take his boss’ job?
Imagine this happening in any other job. You’d call the guy nice?
He’s not unpopular because of the moderate positions he sometimes takes. He’s unpopular because he’s a smug, rich, entitled prick.
The rest of the clowns in the GOP car wouldn’t go that far.
Yes. Paul will beat him handily, and Huntsman will be out soon thereafter.
Heaven forbid we have anyone remotely sane running for the GOP nomination.
Huntsman is the only candidate that can challenge Mitty for the sane vote, so Huntsman has to go.
He is competing for the disingenuous vote. I expect him to do quite well.
I don’t dislike Huntsman, but he’s a distraction. He doesn’t offer anything that Romney doesn’t, and Romney is the frontrunner.
signed-a joker veteran
Why?
I do not understand what he is doing or what his strategy is? Does anyone?
It will be Romney and Huntsman.
So sayeth four of the nine voters in Dixville Notch!
I am just afraid he won’t.