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Manchester, NH — Earlier this week, Jon Huntsman finally hit the airwaves in New Hampshire thanks to a major ad buy underwritten by the pro-Huntsman group Our Destiny PAC — a so-called “Super PAC” that is legally barred from coordinating with the Huntsman campaign but can accept unlimited contributions from corporations and individuals. The 60-second spot was an early Christmas gift to the cash-starved campaign for the former Utah governor, who is struggling in the polls.
Elise Amendola/AP
Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman, former Utah governor, speaks Wednesday during a town meeting in Derry, N.H.
Now the question is whether the dramatic, booming ad is actually working for Huntsman in a state where he has staked his entire struggling presidential bid.
With just seven weeks to go until the primary, the feedback is mixed. There is both a new sense of excitement about a candidate who desperately needs the traction and blunt criticism that the ad might not be as effective as it needs to be.
The spot -- which Huntsman himself claims he had yet to see as of Thursday -- opens with several actors bemoaning the state of the country, sitting in what appears to be a dark parking garage. (The ad maker confirmed the men and women were actors.)
The individuals who appear in the spot are polished speakers — perhaps too much so for some tastes.
“The first thing New Hampshire voters are going to wonder is, ‘Are these folks from New Hampshire? Who are they?’” said Rich Killion, a former New Hampshire adviser to Tim Pawlenty and longtime top political strategist.
“I think it's very dangerous to use actors in ads in Iowa or New Hampshire,” said Pat Griffin, a New Hampshire-based strategist and CEO of political advertising firm Griffin York & Krause. "That looks like a national spot for a guy running a singular state campaign with Screen Actors Guild actors.”
Our Destiny PAC released its first ad, titled "Someone," highlighting "consistent conservative Jon Huntsman."
But the ad is certainly dramatic, and that may go a long way for a candidate like Huntsman who has struggled to create excitement.
“The first ad has to be noticed and have an impact, which it does,” said Alex Castellanos, a longtime Republican media consultant and top adviser to the 2004 George W. Bush and 2008 Romney campaigns. “They do a very good job introducing Huntsman as not just a personality, but a man of accomplishment.”
“When people are slightly dissatisfied with the Republican field, [this ad] allows you a moment of joyous discovery, that maybe there is a solution to this,” Castellanos told NBC News.
On the ground, some voters are already responding.
John Maurice, a registered independent, spied the advertisement at home on television and decided to see Huntsman in person at a recent town hall meeting in Derry.
“I think the grumpy old guy at the beginning wasn’t overly impressive, but I like the idea he’s trying to get his name there, like ‘Why haven’t I heard of this guy?’ is the favorable thing at the end of it,” Maurice told NBC News.
“I like that he’s trying to get his message out. I think he’s a smart man who has been overlooked in this beauty contest,” said Maurice, as he waited for Huntsman to begin speaking.
As the primary nears, New Hampshire voters are likely to see many more candidates hit the airwaves. Already, Rick Perry, Ron Paul and (on cable) Fred Karger have run spots introducing themselves.
When asked how the Huntsman ad stacks up against Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s “Doer” spots, Castellanos said he sees more potential upside for Huntsman. “Perry’s ads are good but they have a tougher job. Perry’s ads have to change something you already know about a candidate,” Castellanos said. “Huntsman is pretty much a blank slate. Writing on a blank slate is easier.”
Though they are undoubtedly useful, television advertisements alone are unlikely to swing many undecided voters. Analysts here agree that the candidate’s substance and presence matters more than smooth advertisements, even if they play during primetime.
"New Hampshire voters are moved entirely on message,” New Hampshire-based strategist Killion said. “Obviously they're going to want to like or respect the messenger, but at the end of the day they're going to be drawn by the message that it is driving the mood of this electorate, which is one that has deep concern about the direction which the country is headed in.”
With little money in the campaign’s own bank account, Huntsman is unlikely to be able to afford to finance his own advertisements anytime soon, unless he adds to the over $2 million from his own pocket that he has already contributed to his campaign. But if he has any realistic hope of closing the gap in New Hampshire, Huntsman needs to stay on the air here.
"Huntsman needs this right now, he needs name ID and awareness," Griffin said.
With surprisingly little competition on the New Hampshire airwaves as frontrunner Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, has thus far decided to conserve his resources, a bigger Huntsman presence on TV could also have a quicker influence on the polls than it otherwise might.
“The airwaves right now, they are actually rather uncluttered of stuff, so anything that's up is going to have an effect,” Killion said.
“Don’t stop,” advised Castellanos. “Because McDonald’s wouldn’t sell another hamburger if they weren’t on the air every day.”
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Mr. Huntsman is the only candidate among the Republican candidates that hasn't veered hard right. He probably has some sound points to make.
The fact that this story has been almost 1/2 hour and this is the first comment reveals something about how he is viewed by voters though.
The thing is, with Huntsman so far down in the polls, it can't hurt. I did like what Michael Steele had to say about Huntsman. That he would be a good candidate against Romney - but he needs to stop acting like an ambassador and start being aggressive at the debates and in speaking engagements.
And since all the GOP/TP candidates are doing so badly...
Who knows whether these douche-bags really believe this conspiracy, but my guess is we will see more of this kind of "strategery" to get far-right voters to the polls.
And don't give him TOO much credit, his economic policies would be just as devastating as the rest of the batch. He's smarter than the rest of them, but he's not perfect.
It's not the messenger or the message and his that of a Moderate. We have become accustom to hearing politicians attack, but I like the guy and appreciate his service as Ambassador to China and his lack of need to engage in a petty way. The fact that he served under President Obama was further proof that he wanted to serve his country. He never tries to slice and dice in debates--so, they don't direct questions his way.
As a liberal, I'd never vote for him, but he's the brightest light bulb of the batch.
huntsman is the only candidate that has a brain bigger than a tea bag ... that intelligence will prove to be his down fall .. like Cain said we need a leader not a reader .. intelligence doesnt work well with the tea party.. thay love you just as dumb as you can be.
Huntsman has too many problems. Served as President Obamas ambassador to China. Displays intelligence. He's a mormon running as a republican. His language usage alone is a "high slight" of the tea party, and all anus corked "right wingers". Total wrong headedness for any successful republican these days.
Good point, Mac. Huntsman would do better as an Indie. Why would someone with any talent and intelligence hitch their wagon to a dying horse (GOP) . . . ?
Bottom line is, if any of these Republicans actually succeed in winning the WH (OMG what a nightmarish thought!), Boehner, his robots and clowns in Congress, and the TP wingnuts will, ultimate, set the far right agenda of driving this country back into the 1950s.
Jon Huntsman is similar to Ron Paul in that they're both trustworthy people. I've said this before, and I'll say this again: this time round, only three candidates are fit to be president: Obama, Paul, and Huntsman.
If he was able to pull it off and make it to my state he has earned my vote.
Gov. Jon Huntsman is BY FAR the most intelligent, articulate, thoughtful and most qualified of the GOP candidates. I am always impressed by his knowledge base as he responds to questions with well thought out answers and solutions. His grasp of foreign affairs is always impressive. He is a Leader AND a Reader. He was on MSNBC's Morning Joe yesterday and gave a great interview. Go to #45354283 Don't forget to watch him at the CNN National Security Debate on Tues Nov 22 at 8pmET Hopefully, his time will come once all of the clowns are weeded out!
I liked Huntsman quite a bit until I watched the meet the press segment on him, where he refuses to admit he's moderate at all, he has just governed moderate people. Why is it such a dirty word? He needs to just say "Yes. Sometimes I am moderate, and id be willing to bet we all have points where we agree with the other guys." Seriously, this primary season has been a bunch of pillocks bragging about how they're the most conservative of them all and how THAT qualifies them to be the CEO of one of the world's superpowers.
Is there any wonder the right can't get energized?
Huntsman needs the far right to get nominated. He'd be stupid to ruin any chance we have for him to make it by saying such a thing. The extremist in this country have so polarized us that being a moderate is like farting in church..repeatedly.
i agree 100%. Both parties are responsible for it, as well. With redistricting that leads to districts with 70% or more leaning one way or the other, is it any wonder our elected officials are more extreme?
For some reason all the republican candidates have an obsession with trying to please the hard right nuts that comprise the tea party.
Romney could also claim to be a moderate (by today's definition) and probably gain some points. If he actually claimed credit for his states health program he could show himself to be a man with a plan.
The Republicans are too heavily invested in sabotaging the future of America for the majority of Americans to let any Moderate come in and, god forbid, compromise with their intended victims.
Ha, all Obama has to do is say what a fine job he did for him, and what a good guy he is, and that will be the end of Huntsmann.
Unfortunately, that's probably true. Serving your country when called upon is no longer enough. If you want to run as a republican you must also agree to hate (not just disagree with) Obama.
Really Forrest Grump?! Are you kidding? Jon Huntsman's experience as Ambassador to China and his command of world affairs places him at a level far above all of the other GOP candidates. So what if Obama were to say he is a good guy. How does that disqualify him? If anything, in a general election, Huntsman would draw from the Independents and Democrats that voted for Obama in 2008! Huntsman accepted the job from Obama because he wanted to serve his Country. He was the most qualified for the job and he gained valuable experience as the ambassador to our most important competitor and creditor. Obama also gave him the job because he wanted him out of the country. Obama knows that he would be his most formidable opponent... if the GOP would just wake up, get a clue and make him our nominee!
The GOP hates anything Obama likes, Obama hired Huntsmann why do you think the GOP avoids him like the plague, If Obama was to compliment him it would further destroy him with the GOP. I can't explain it, it is just the way it is, hell when Obama submits republican generated ideas they suddenly don't like their own ideas anymore. It is irrational I agree but true just the same. Huntsmann is dead last at 1% in the republican nomination race. Go figure.
Obama was a unaccomplished politician outside of getting elected. He rammed Health Care through despite running on a open platform that would bring the sides together. If he was half as smart as some thought he would have realized this would result in what happened, gridlock. An effective leader brings people together. Huntsman has shown this ability and he is our only real choice to effectively move this country forward.
YellowCake from NIGER, please! Gridlock was guaranteed before Obama even got elected. The Fake Filibuster Rule 22 in the Senate puts too much obstructionist power into the hands of the minority. It is by nature un-democratic and very likely unconstitutional.
We The People: Anyone who utters the phrase 'rammed something through Congress' has never sat in a Congressional hearing or been part of an effort to get a piece of legislation passed by both chambers and signed by a president. I'm sure some things get rammed in Congress, but legislation isn't one of them.
chickpea ... your wrong that Obama just wanted Huntsman out of the country ... Obama has tried to fill positions with the best people possible R or D .. Obama works hard for the people of our country ..and gets slapped in the face for it .. because he is a moderate .. Obama will compromise for the good of our country .. will anyone in the GOP compromise ..NO.. the GOP would rather see our country fail than to accept anything Obama suggests .. thr good of the average American means nothing to the GOP
independent jim.... I said that Obama "also" gave him the job because he wanted him out of the country. Obama did choose him because he was the most qualified for the job. I believe that Huntsman as President would work with both sides for the good of our Country.... the only GOP candidate who would do so. And Huntsman, unlike Obama, would have the respect of the other party.... as he does already because he is the only sane, intelligent GOP candidate we have.
He has the respect of exactly 1% of the republican party, evidently they have more respect for Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann than they do for Huntsmann. You need to sell your party on Huntsmann first then worry about the rest.
I will vote for Huntsman regardless if he is on the ticket or not. We need someone that can not only beat Obama but will do right for this country. No other candidate has shown they won't bend to the moment and has the intelligence and character we should insist from any president.
So, you acknowledge that President Obama has superior judgment in selecting people to serve America as its representatives abroad? Our former Ambassador to China, Mr. Huntsman, by all accounts was an outstanding voice for America in Beijing and Mr. Obama should be give full credit for seeking someone of Mr. Huntsman's ability and nominating him for that post even though he is a member of the Republican party. Can you imagine George Bush doing anything so rational? Or Romney? Newt? Cain? Anyone?
That's why I believe Obama is the only one that is a moderate and more concerned with helping the country than his own ambitions.
Two traits I value highly in a politician, as they are so rare.
It a shame he is a RepublicanPuke..he would have made a nice 2016 democrat President .
You obviously know little and are here to cause a stir. Huntsman has very deep conservative views while respecting people at a deep level. Your a extremist like the far right and left are and wouldn't understand.
Your post at 7.2 demonstrates your level of respect for those who might disagree with you.
I know quite a bit. I like Huntsman but not as a Republicanpuke..I would vote for in 2016 as a democrat.So you can't tell me they don't change party like allen spector. and a few others..
We the people- I dont know about that. I lived in Utah for 6 yrs and under Jon as governor and even in that very conservative state he was a left of that center as a politician. Very pragmatic and a realist. The way the GOP has bolted to the right he would very likely be a good fit for Pres in 2016 Democratic ticket. Can you imagine the GOP Presidential debates in 2016 after 4 more years of Obama/Biden. They are gonna be awesome. They will be foaming at the mouth by then LMAO
The ad is overly dramatic and you can clearly see, they are not Mr or Ms John Q. Public....As for being the smart republican presidential candidate, all you have to do is say as little as possible when you are on the podium at the debates and you will appear to be a genius after listening to the rest of those idiots. I guess Huntsman's plan is to be the last man standing after all the Jackasses have fallen by the wayside.
YES...wow...I did see huntsman for the 1st time this week. He seems to be a nice person, and seems to have some great ideas about how to be a good leader...but, I force myself to remember that he is or was the Governor of UTAH....the Jews NEW ZION....and similar to Mitt Romney.....they're like fraternal twins....If THAT CONNECTION were not there I would DEFINITELY vote for either one of them because I like their manliness and charm and sex appeal and intelligence. However none of my reasons are good enough to vote for the leader of the USA. None of the rest appeal to me at all. The lifestyle of their religion hold me back from pushing the lever for a Mormon president to rule the USA...I cannot do it.
People had somewhat similar concerns with JFK for being... gasp... Catholic. Religion doesn't make a person good or bad. People manage that all on their own and should be judged accordingly.
Kickingant is 100% right.
Prejudices destroy America, and this election shows how prejudice and ignorant most Americans truly are.
Governor Huntsman is so far the only REpublican who could get my vote. The others just spout party lines and Mr. Romney changes his tune at every other speach.
I hope Governor Huntsman is still in the running when the primaries get to my state.
As a liberal I have to hope Huntsman doesn't get the nomination. He is the only Republican candidate smart enough to get on a stage to debate Obama. When Jon Huntsman speaks I usually don't agree with him but at least he makes sense.
I am Democrat, and I voted for Obama. But if Huntsman gets the GOP nomination, I will probably vote for him, otherwise Obama. The far right-idiots and their media coverage aren't fooling anyone. Romney is a serious candidate as well, but Huntsman simply appeals to me as a middle-of-the-road person untainted by all the corruption I see out of D.C.
P.S. I'm no Tea Partier and I don't get the goals of the Occupy movement. Just looking for an intelligent honest experienced person. Obama will be my choice if the GOP chooses Cain, Perry, Bachman, et al.
Huntsman has this brilliant idea: Cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy!!! You see, that will create jobs and that will pay for our wars and even more loopholes for the rich!!! Yea!
Huntsman has a few problems (despite the fact that he is the smartest guy in the room, and the closest thing the GOP has to a statesman).
The most egregious issue: he worked for Obama as the diplomat assigned one of the most critical international posts in the government. The right wing-true believers will NEVER support him for that failing. Obama's ambassadorship to China was the 'kiss of death' for Huntsman.
He is a Mormon and his record in Utah as Governor was not so great ( as least voters weren't crazy about him-probably not conservative enough.) The 'holier-than-thou' evangelicals will NEVER support anyone who isn't a card-bearing Christian (their intrepretation).
He is educated and articulate. Remember, the GOP lap dogs love a dim-bulb like Perry, Cain (and, of course, Airhead-in-Chief, bush, jr.)--someone who has simple solutions for complex problems--or none at all... The dumber the better.
He frequently makes sense.
Why would I not vote for a Mormon? The same reason you wouldn't vote for a candidate who honestly believes in the Tooth Fairy.
Prejudice is a sign of being uneducated, but I doubt it'd be possible to educate someone as retarded as you.
Interesting. I don't like any of your comments. Best Destiny and Jack, I feel like both of you are running away from something. If you were really so much more spiritually enlightened than those of us who believe, perhaps you would try to lovingly convince us of our errors rather than blasting us with condescending rhetoric. I hope someday you find the spirituality you are looking for. Then you won't find it necessary to be angry anymore. Jello12, you are putting yourself in the same camp. Those who are angry have secret pain or insecurity.
Jell12 - Uneducated? Having grown up in a small town in Southern Utah, I would hardly call myself uneducated when the topic is Mormonism. It's funny you'd arrive at that conclusion based on what I said. There's nothing prejudicial about it. Perhaps if you educated yourself about what it is that these folks believe, you'd see my point.
Best Destiny - I completely agree.
Jesse - My comment was merely expressing my distrust in a candidate who believes in something so utterly unfounded and nonsensical. There is more factual evidence that the Lord of the Rings is the true creation story than there is with the Book of Mormon. I would like to have a president who is rooted in reality and not science fiction or fantasy or whatever you call the works of Joseph Smith.
Running away from something? I don't think so. Secret pain or insecurity? You couldn't be further from the mark.
Putting this man in the White House would be like putting Harry Reid there. Do we really want that? Harry Reid still has lots of jobs legislation that never left his table for the floor of the Senate for a vote.
Who knows who the last candidate standing will be? Huntsman might be better than the rest of the idiots running. 1 thing for sure: We don't need 4 more years of CHAINS.!!!!!!!!!
“Super PACS" need to be outlawed period, they do not represent the people of this country only the 1%.
Look at Utah, its a fiscal wreck, has the highest closing costs of ANY state. Its education system is a disaster. Lets get he straight skinny Mr. Hunstman!
Can someone please explain to me how come the GOP "stuck gold" like they did – they've been so unbelievably lucky to find such a fabulous field of candidates – wow – the GOP voters are just "spoiled rotten for choice".
"Despite the goings-on in Congress, I don't believe the USA is bordering on madness. I believe Mexico and Canada are." Robert Brault
- well, I reckon something very similar could be said of the GOP candidates!!
Yeah! Why haven't we heard this guy? It's because the tea party has selected a bunch of loonies. Only Jon Huntsman can beat Obama in 2012. Go for it Mr. Huntsman.
Huntsman has a brain; therefore he is toast in the Republican Party.
Straight off the top of the article boys and girls ... "Manchester, NH — Earlier this week, Jon Huntsman finally hit the airwaves in New Hampshire thanks to a major ad buy underwritten by the pro-Huntsman group Our Destiny PAC — a so-called "Super PAC" that is legally barred from coordinating with the Huntsman campaign but can accept unlimited contributions from corporations and individuals. The 60-second spot was an early Christmas gift to the cash-starved campaign for the former Utah governor, who is struggling in the polls" ... Seriously, folks ... How many of the other candidates are bragging they have a "Super-Pac" at their disposal? Do all the candidates "wing it" out there with their own inexhaustible supply of money? The rich and the super rich are getting it their way again ... Where is the sanity,(that's a rhetorical question) ... Have a good day ...