May 16, 2009 07:26 PM UTC

Huntsman to be Ambassador to China

• 0 Comments
• by: A-bob

Political Wire reports that Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah will be resigning soon to accept the nomination to become ambassador to China.  

Huntsman, who had been mentioned as a potential Republican contender for the White House, has previously served as the Deputy United States Trade Representative and was the ambassador Singapore. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and he and his wife, Mary Kaye, have adopted a daughter from China.

David Plouffe, who was Obama’s 2008 campaign manager said that Huntsman was the only Republican he was really worried about challenging Obama in 2012. This now helps close off the possibility that Huntsman will run for President in 2012. However, it will give Huntsman even more foreign policy experience and in 2016 he could easily become one of the front-runners in the Republican Primary.

An announcement is expected Saturday.