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EXETER NH--Ending his New Hampshire marathon exactly where he first began it, Jon Huntsman delivered his closing argument to his biggest ever crowd in the Granite State, hoping that his weekend surge will be enough to propel him to South Carolina.
“Something is happening out there,” Huntsman said, basking in deafening cheers at the quintessentially charming Exeter Town Hall. “I have no idea what it is going to mean tomorrow night, but I do know this: we’re going to surprise a whole lot of people in this country.”
Alex Wong / Getty Images
Jon Huntsman speaks to voters during a 'Restoring Trust Rally' in Exeter, New Hampshire.
Huntsman launched his Granite State strategy on June 21 in the same town hall. Later, New Hampshire would become the singular focus of shoe-string strategy that was once a three-state approach. His sudden surge over the past several days has been a welcome change for a candidate who usually spoke to crowds of a few dozen until very recently.
Huntsman also hammered home a new mantra: “Country First.” The phrase
-- which was first used in John McCain's 2008 campaign -- is a ninth hour addition to his stump speech, after front-runner Mitt Romney questioned Huntsman's decision to serve as US ambassador to China under Democratic incumbent Barack Obama in two debates last weekend.
The Huntsman campaign began airing an television advertisement slamming Romney's position and generated new lawn signs emblazoned with the tagline to drive the point home in the final hours before New Hampshire votes.
“Our movement is here to put our country first. We’re tired of people putting politics first,” Huntsman said of Romney as his Exeter crowd roared.
The sizeable rally, which was utterly unfathomable just one week ago, featured an energetic Huntsman who spent the day crisscrossing the state drawing a contrast between himself and Mitt Romney. Clad in a leather bomber jacket, Huntsman brought up Romney's debate comments repeatedly.
"It has become abundantly clear over the last couple of days what differentiates Gov. Romney and me," Huntsman told reporters in Concord today. "I will always put my country first. It seems that Gov. Romney believes in putting politics first. Gov. Romney enjoys firing people.
I enjoy creating jobs."
Huntsman was referring to a comment on health care by Romney earlier in the day, during which Romney answered a question on health care.
"I like being able to fire people who provide services to me," Romney said this morning. "If someone doesn't give me the good service I need, I want to say I am going to get somebody else to provide that service to me."
Huntsman spent most of his final full day on the New Hampshire trail kissing babies, dropping by diners and bakeries, and shaking hands with any voter who would give him their attention. Starting from the northern reaches of the state and slowly working his way south, Huntsman told voters he wanted to "twist your arm and earn your vote."
"We're looking for a little help," a hopeful Huntsman told voters in Nashua. "We need help in getting out the vote tomorrow. We've worked very, very hard...no one has worked this state like we have."
By evening, a cloudy moment momentarily dampened the otherwise ebuillient mood.
Huntsman's application to appear in the Arizona primary ballot was rejected because of a missing notarized signature today, according to the Arizona Secretary of State's Office. This comes after the former Utah governor missed ballot requirements in Virginia and Illinois. The Huntsman campaign vowed that it did complete the application and plans to litigate to put his name on the ballot.
But Huntsman himself remained focused on leveraging his weekend surge into a performance worthy of the many days he has spent in the Granite State.
"Are we ready to rock and roll tomorrow?" Huntsman bellowed in Exeter.
"We are ready to rock and roll!"
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I like the guy A LOT. I do not think he has a chance of getting the nomination which is a shame. I like that he's the most moderate, centrist of the group. I think he could easily appeal to the center and could definitely pull votes from the left as well. He could be a very uniting candidate and I feel like he's got the experience and expertise to help get the country going in the right direction but he does NOT appeal to the base and, therefore, has no chance of getting the nomination. I'm pretty certain Romney is going to be the guy.
JS: I agree; I like Jon Huntsman very much. I'm a Democrat and support President Obama. However, while Jon Huntsman is too conservative for me, (I'm a conservative Democrat), he is smart, experienced, and a gentleman. He is far superior to any of the other GOP candidates, and it is beyond me why he has not done better. Again, while I support President Obama, I would definitely look hard at Jon Huntsman if he would win the nomination. Alas, he probably has no chance.
I like Huntsman, but what the heck is up with these candidates that they can't even get the paperwork done to get on the ballots? If you can't get that done how can I trust you to actually run the country?
harrison you make a good point. I think the best reason is those on the Republican side,who are well known REpublicans have decided to sit this election out. Only the unknowns and those looking to revitalize their dwindling careers ventured out on this election. They have not had the organization that many of the respected republicans already had in place. This happened on the democratic side when Clinton first ran, no one knew him because it was expected that Bush sr would get another term so the well known dems sat out.
I'd like to see a campaign in which rational people like Huntsman actually discuss and debate real issues rather than the personal attack pablum the media dishes as political dialogue.
Do you ever listen to the inane questions the so-called debate moderators come up with? Third graders would do a more intelligent job.
I'm more liberal than anything...I would definitely vote Huntsman. I support President Obama but I would love to see these two have a battle of ideas in the general election debate. It would be nice to see two intelligent people on stage. The other GOP candidatses are clowns.
I was with you until your last sentence. Then you went over to the logic and style of the main stream media.
Letusreaason, you are not serious about your statement are you? The republican field this time around are a bunch of clowns or at the very best not the best the Republicans have to offer. Very few had national exposure, therefore have been involved in their own local squabbles in their own respective states, you have a Congresswoman and man who represents about 20,000 people, you have a active governor and two former ones,Perry may be great for Texas but he has no national understanding,or credentials, you have a former speaker of the house that was booted out of office close to 20 years ago and then you got a senator that was not even liked by his own people to warrant a reelection. these are the dreggs of the Republican party and they are looking to lead it. Okay huntsman got some international cred but that barely compensates.
I am from Utah and he is a patsy....He is as far from 'honest'....sure pulled the wool over all of us in the state of Utah...
Oh my you must have been the one of the 22% that didn't vote for him in his reelection.
Getting 78% of the vote is significant.
Forget Huntsman. He stated that he accepts scientific evidence supporting global warming and evolution. Nobody that grounded in logical thought could win the GOP nomination.
They have beaten up Romney because he said " he likes to fire people" which was taken out of context. He meant that he wants to have the option to take his business elsewhere when he is unhappy with a service.That's how we all feel. We go where we think we get the best service for our money. In other words , we "fire" those we feel don't do the proper job.
When asked about it, Gingrich had the decency and honesty to say there is nothing wrong with what Romney said because he knows what Romney meant and that it was taken out of context.
When Huntsman was asked, he said YES, Romney likes to fire people.
I dont trust Huntsman based on that comment. That is very dishonest of him. We know Huntsman wants to win but now we see he is willing to say anything to get there.
and mittens isnt willing to say or do anything........
you are kidding yourself
paxil,
Romney will say as little as possible against the other Republicans.
Romney doesn't want a fight with Republicans. He's saving it all for Obama.
All vitriol, bigotry, hate and ignorance aside this should be the Republican candidate. No I still would not vote for him, however if Republicans want to demonstrate a love for their country this is the man. He has flaws to be certain as do all candidates for any office. He is still the only real choice to make.
John Huntsman is an "Obama Plant"
Oh I can hear you already. How can he says that about John Huntsman?
Ask yourself one question: With only 1 to 2% in every poll why would anyone stay in the running for president of the United States and spend millions and millions of dollars?
Maybe another job with the next administration?...Hum....just maybe...."it's called paying each end against the other"
this is a joke ....right? Why would Obama plant huntsman? huntsman is the only guy that could give him some trouble, split the independent vote. stop smioking what ou are smoking it is causing dellusions.
Huntsman rising may not make much of a difference. Huntsman did not make it onto the Arizona ballot as reported yesterday. In addition, he is not on the ballots in Illinois or Virginia. It's mathematically very difficult for him to be nominated. A protest vote for him would be a bit too vague. Perhaps another anti-Romney would be a better place to cast your vote.
Well,well,well another pot calling the kettle black. When it comes down to it, the person we vote for as president is not nearly as important as who we send the house and senate. The proof is with the last round of elections. 2014 will be the real difference maker if we are looking to "change America" although that is also a long shot at best. Apathy, and ignorance seems to be the real winners in our country. It is quite the mess the media and name callers have made in our U.S.A. When a candidate uses the slogan "country first" I have to question their ability to put together a coherent thought. I consider it an automatic assumption that the candidates put their country first, nobody has to tell me that, and if they do, then something is not right. It is just another easy unchallengeable answer to complex difficulties facing our nation. Can one candidate please give me an answer as to how you are going to help lead this country for the next decade. My children have to know what they need to learn so they can successfully survive after 2020. They don't need sound bits. They need to be prepared.
As a Obama supporter he's the only GOP contender that makes me nervous. He's also the only GOP contender that I wouldn't hang myself if he got elected:)
I'm a democrat, but have been dissapointed in Obama, ok, he is doing better lately....but still....
Jon Huntsman is the only Republican I would take a serious look at, I think he scares the bejesus out of the current White House occupants.
The rest of the Republican crowd is just a circus side show...sans Ron Paul
kornfed,
you're thinking is skewed......with all due respect.
Most Republicans prefer another candidate to Huntsman.
"There's something happenin here, what it is ain't exactly clear".
Let us see America what Mr. Huntsman says from this point. It will be interesting to watch where Mr. Huntsman goes from here. It is too early to make a judgement on Mr. Huntsman yet. What is his Economic Policy like? Does he even have one?? What are his Foreign Policy views? What has been his past record on these issues America?? It is time to THINK about the Presidential Character of Mr. Huntsman America! It is time to READ all information concerning Mr. Huntsman America! It is time to RESEARCH Mr. Huntman's complete past poltical, economic, social voting record.
Jon Huntsman can be a nice guy and all but he is the least person among the nominees who can defeat Pres. Obama.
Can you image Gov. Huntsman on a presidential debate against Pres. Obama, and he is talking about what this country needs is a leader and in answer to his comment Pres. Obama pulls the letter Ambassador Huntsman sent him calling him an "Extraordinary Leader"? The debate is over.
I see that Mitt Romney maybe went a little too strong on the last debate, but on my view Gov. Romney was not criticizing Ambassador Huntsman for his public service, but for his praises to President Obama, and also being an Ambassador means that you are a representative of the President, pushing his policies.
That is the reason that even though Gov. Huntsman may have some good record for him, he cannot criticize someone which he openly praised.