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Subscribe to RSSPETERBOROUGH, NH -- After dodging the question twice in two days, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman appeared to shut the door on running as a third-party candidate for president, if he doesn't become the Republican presidential nominee.
"I'm not running as an independent. I'm not running as an independent," Huntsman told reporters after a town hall meeting this morning. "I don't know how many times I have to say that."
This is the first time Huntsman appeared to completely rule out a run outside the Republican Party, and it's his most definitive answer to date. Previously, the former ambassador to China seemed to leave the option open, saying he was running in the GOP and planned to win the Republican nomination.
"I've been a lifelong Republican. I expect to be the nominee, and that's how we are going to resolve it," Huntsman said, ducking the question in Londonderry on Friday evening.
Huntsman also tried to play down news that his former campaign manager Susie Wiles endorsed Mitt Romney today.
"That's all political gamesmanship," Huntsman said when asked about Wiles' jump.
Huntsman also lost a key New Hampshire supporter Robert Brothers last night, to which Huntsman said, "Oh, we are picking up people all the time. That's how politics goes sometimes."
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So? Does anyone care?
It's sad, that Huntsman is the only sane one of the GOP running.
Huntsman billionaire, Chemical aire. Mosanto says it all.
Only those who have a clue Paul, and only those who want ABO 2012... and end the disaster!
Not saying he's a bad candidate, Pride, but here's another clue for you - he is pretty inconsequential this election cycle. It just isn't working. He came into the race as the second Mormon and a member of the Obama Administration - that's two strikes from day one.
If he did run as an independent, he'd need to quickly put together a national ballot access organization. It's tougher than you might think, especially without even the help of a third party behind you. So, in the end, he'd probably be on the ballot in something like 12 states and even in those would get like .3 percent of the vote. Sure, it's mathematically possible that .3 percent could be a spoiler somewhere (not sure which way) but odds are against it.
What about Bachmann? She is the most likely to, or Palin who is that vindictive. Ron Paul would be best but he is not likely to put his own aspirations above Party...but we'll see.
Any answer back from Iran yet?
I heard Obama asked for our drone back.
What a loser!
Considering we don't have normalized relations it's probably more like, "We asked Jordan to ask Iran to give it back."
...or, what, you think we should go to war over a drone?
Considering we don't have normalized relations
Really? I thought Obama had said something during the campaign about unilateral talks with Iran and North Korea.....
He was going to get them to be all warm and friendly by imposing his renowned diplomatic skills.
It was part of the hope and change thing.
I see...so, now you're in favor of that?
...but isn't he an appeaser if he does have direct talks with Ahmadinejad?
@ Rob --
Hey, big man -- suppose you volunteer to walk in there and retrieve it.
And just for the record, this is exactly why we use drones. and not airplanes carrying people.
Because sometimes they fail.
Have you ever heard of Gary Powers? No. Well, go and look it up.
Grow up. This isn't a video game.
Rob in ma is a perfect example of why I don't engage Republicans in discourse. They will always flip/flop and argue for points they were arguing against last week.
Rob in ma, we all know that there are a lot of things Obama should have done, but didn't; and a lot of things Obama has done, but certainly shouldn't have...... but this issue of the downed drone doesn't qualify under either!
Huntsman: 'I'm not running as an independent, hell if you look at my numbers don't look like I'm running as a Republican either'
As Governor of Utah, Huntsman got along reasonably well with the State's liberals (all two of them...no...just kidding...slightly).
Huntsman is simply too moderate a Republican for today's Party. Can't get it this time and has no chance in 2016, unless the Party fails in 2012, and turns toward the center. If the Party does that...he'll start in the 2016 campaign as a front-runner.
Huntsman will be somebody's veep candidate in 2016. You heard it hear first.
They will always flip/flop and argue for points they were arguing against last week.
????
It's the president that flip flopped.....
He's the one that said he would engage in one on one talks with Iran.
He's the last one to know he's running as an independent. But it doesn't matter--he won't win as an indie, either.
Used to vote Republican. I voted for Reagan and HW Bush. Would consider Huntsman but the others...not a chance in hell. The great statesman of the past had the ability to consider and work with the opposition. They weren't afraid of science and honest debates. The republican party I have known is dead and I'm not sure it can come back to the middle. Too many bat@!$%#s now.
Blame it on Nixon. He offered the South a snack and over the years, they ate the entire Party.
Huntsman Billionaire, Chemical aire. Mosanto says it all.
It is too bad. He would have done well with Americans Elect.