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NORTH CHARLESTON, SC -- On Wednesday, Jon Huntsman said his bronze-medal finish in the New Hampshire primary gave him a "ticket to ride" to South Carolina, but the former Utah governor is doing his best to keep his Palmetto State expectations low.
Or in his words, "Very low."
"But I think we'll exceed that," Huntsman quickly added.
Huntsman is realistic about his chances in a state to which he has only visited a handful of times with just nine days to go voting day. The former ambassador to China -- who did more than 170 public campaign stops in New Hampshire over a six-month period -- has lots of ground to make up in the Palmetto State.
He clocked in at 1% of support in the a recent CNN poll of likely South Carolina Republican voters.
"We don't have as much time as we did in New Hampshire," Huntsman conceded in Columbia, after speaking to more than 100 students at faculty at the University of South Carolina Moore School of Business. "But we have enough energy and we have enough of a message and enough of a good team on the ground and that's what I think matters in the end."
Huntsman's team in South Carolina is actually much larger than many realize -- with four field staffers and support from prominent leaders, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. Another major supporter, former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, called Huntsman a "red hot" candidate who he believes can overcome a
massive name ID challenge in a state that is more conservative and evangelical compared to New Hampshire. .
While Huntsman tries to mute expectations, he also remains his usual upbeat self.
“Ladies and gentleman, I am an optimist or I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you,” he said at a town hall meeting in North Charleston on Wednesday night.
However, caution prevails. When asked if he will definitely campaign in Florida -- a state where his campaign headquarters once was located -- a worn-looking Huntsman smiled, "Well, one state at a time. One state at a time."
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That should be easy to do...
Jon Huntsman trails Stephen Colbert in South Carolina poll [Video]
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-hunstman-trails-stephen-colbert-in-south-carolina-poll-video-20120111,0,3328386.story
Well, at least he's still leading Buddy Roemer.....
Meanwhile, Romney's support continues to soar to new heights of.....27%.
And I found the last line of this article the most interesting of all:
"The survey found that 67% of likely voters believe “only people are people,”
while 33% believe “corporations are people.
I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.....
Don't sell yourself short there Johnnie Boy. I'm sure there will be plenty of liberal democrats that will pick up a republican ballot to help you along.
But in the end, you will end up with a "ticket to" Utah.
ROTFL,L,L...
(wiping tears from my eyes) Guess it is the usual Republican goal:
Aim low, then EXCEED "VERY LOW"
Thats all....
The term low expectations and republican have become synonymous.
Huntsman is the best of them all, the GOP lost its way. The rest of them are trailer park trash that got hijacked by the Tea-ReTards.
Huntsman worked for Obama. Huntsman is not even on the ballot in 4 states. He is the "joker". Wake up man.
"The term low expectations and republican have become synonymous."
Mr. George Walker Bush was very instrumental in lowering the bar. Even limbo dancers would find it hard to go that low.
Huntsman is not running for 2012, he is running for 2016.
He will stay in long enough that he is considered the "next in line" in 2016. Just like Romney did in 2008.
Which party would that be?
His political philosophy is a poor fit for both parties at this point. He isn't running for the REPUBLICAN nomination in 2016, he's running for the REPUBLICAN nomination in 2000...
dangerfield,
I think the 2016 GOP field will be more reflective of 2000 than today's. Just a guess.
dangerfield - Well, you may be right, but I'd say Romney isn't a fit for today's Republican party either and he is going to win the nomination regardless.
Mitt is a great fit for ANY party, as he is very bend-y (Credit to Phoebe Buffay) ...but I wouldn't be handing him the tiara and bouquet just yet...
but I wouldn't be handing him the tiara and bouquet just yet...
Maybe I'm too cynical (as if that is possible for a political junkie like me) but in my opinion Romney had it wrapped up when the filing deadlines to get on the ballot passed by without a viable Republican candidate entering the fray.
I'm still not convinced that the current political climate, change from "winner-take-all" and the 20 or so percent of delegates that Ron Paul will bring to Tampa, won't wind up in a brokered convention that sees a "compromise" candidate emerge...
I think it will be Jeb Bush...
(there's still too much "ABR" money floating around...
dangerfield,
Are you trying to set "the cat amongst the pigeons" here? From local reporting here, Jeb wants no part of 2012 politics - except to advise.
If He didn't issue a "Sherman" denial...and politicians and ladies tend to have the same "prerogative" in my (cynical) experience...
-------------------------------------------------
Most of the arguments to which I am party fall somewhat short of being impressive, knowing to the fact that neither I nor my opponent knows what we are talking about.
Rodney Dangerfield
/r/rodney_dangerfield_2.html#ixzz1jGigHIhE
Dangerfield - I highly doubt there will be a brokered convention. And if there was I highly doubt they would pick Jeb BUSH, a man who most people outside of Florida don't know that is saddled with the worst political pedigree possible.
I could be wrong. If Jeb Bush starts making the media rounds aggressively, if the GOP starts pushing Jeb, maybe. But I haven't seen it yet, and it would have to start happening soon.
It is going to be Romney. It was always going to be Romney. Anybody who thought the GOP establishment would allow Herman Cain, Michelle Bachman or Newt Gingrich the nomination was kidding themselves.
Former Major League pitcher Joaquin Andujar put it best, though he was talking about Baseball...
I can sum up politics in one word...
,,,YOUNEVERKNOW..;)
Does anyone know what Huntsman's numbers are in some of the other primary states?
@nisl
I totally agree with you. And if anyone thinks he is doing it to be a veep pick, they are wrong. If, as it appears, the Gov. Romney is the choice, no way, as politically incorrect it is to say, they will let two Mormons on the ticket.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/republican_presidential_nomination-1452.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/fl/florida_republican_presidential_primary-1597.html
no way, as politically incorrect it is to say, they will let two Mormons on the ticket.
I think that is slightly irrelevant. Romney will be the Republican nominee and his VP will need to be from the south, don't you think? That makes Huntsman (Utah) an unlikely pick.
Besides, I've heard there is a bit of personal animosity between the Huntsman and Romney clans that precede this election season.
nisl,
Had not heard about the animosity between the two families, but I am not surprised. Seems (from appearances) that quite a few of the GOP families do not get along with the Romney family.
And, yes, he will need help in the south, no two ways about it. I do wonder, however, how the Bain thing in the midwest is playing. That could hurt, too. But using your point on the south, that would also eliminate Christie.
Phine - Yeah, Christie is not going to be the VP nominee. At least if the "old" political calculus regarding the picking of VP nominees holds up.
On the other hand Christie is a GREAT attack dog, and that is one of the main campaign duties the VP nominee is given. But I don't think Christie brings much to the Romney ticket. Maybe I could see it if Team Romney thought picking Christie would give them a win in NJ, but I doubt they consider that likely.
nisl,
Rubio is also a no-go. Jeb has been advising him to stay out of this fray in 2012. Maybe the guy from Virginia?
Phine - Warner? Yeah, I can see that.
Since we are playing the VP speculation game let me throw out a possible: Nikki Haley, the Gov of South Carolina.
nisl,
You threw me a curve ball with that one. Hmmm. But aren't her numbers way down in SC? Could be a drawback. Barbour, even without the pardon thing, wants to be top dog - not veep. What about the guy who is the chairman of the RNC, McDonnell?
Isn't the chairman of the RNC named Rancid Prius or something? (I'm kidding, I know his name.)
Barbour is toxic after his pardons, so I doubt it. Besides, he might a tad TOO southern.
Yes, Halley's numbers are down, and I doubt Nikki would get the nod regardless, but McCain chose Palin... Of course Palin's numbers were pretty good at the time McCain picked her.
First, lets list the Republican Governors from the South that are currently serving:
Alabama: Robert Bentley
Arizona: Jan Brewer
Georgia: Nathan Deal
Louisiana: Bobby Jindal
Mississippi: Phil Bryant
New Mexico: Susan Martinez
Oklahoma: Mary Fallin
South Carolina: Nikki Halley
Tennessee: Bill Haslam
Texas: Ricky!
Virginia: Bob McDonnell
That is the current crop of potentials, but chances are there a quite a few retired former Republican Governors that are higher on the list than those I've listed above.
nisl,
Bentley in Alabama might be one to look at. McDonnell from Virginia is often talked about. What about senators and/or congressmen?
Rommney will need help with Hispanics. Marc Rubio from Florida would be a good pick. The fact that the Tea Party likes won't hurt either.
If our present trade practicing status with China , are a clear reflection of Huntsman's achievements there , he should be despised by all Americans...
Where oh where is Harold Stassen when you need him?
Insider Advantage is the only polling firm that conducted it's poll AFTER the New Hampshire primary...they showed Jon Huntsman at 7%. Not sure how reputable they are though.
Huntsman / Grimey 2012
Frank-
Did they include Colbert?
(have you joined Americans Elect yet?)
dangerfield-
That makes three of us who have posted on this blog about Americans Elect ... seems to fall on deaf ears ... quite surprising as they are more than halfway to being on the ballot in every state.
I just signed up for Americans Elect.
You are NUMBER 4...congratulations...
I didn't sign up yet - need to read more - but I did see this on the website as part of their mission, which looks like it rules out the Huntsman/Grimey ticket - as well as Romney and any of the GOP governors above:
"A NONPARTISAN TICKET on the 2012 ballot.
Americans Elect finalists must choose a VP from a party other than their own."
Okay, First Readers - let's hear from both sides - what's your preferred two-party ticket?
Obama/Huntsman
A. Lincoln/ F.D. Roosevelt...
Living?
Hillary/Tom Coburn
Many on the red side think America Elect is a blue Trojan, many on the blue side think it is a red Trojan.
I feel a girraff would serve as good symbol seeing as this will be a committee choice.
It used to be that the VP was the one who finished 2nd in the electoral college...made for some interesting infighting...
ideology - Good point, but being a cat person, I'd have to go with either a liger or a tigon.
How could you run the country if the door to the oval office was always slamming shut with a curse?
Well, I do know there wasn't a lot of hugging going on between the President and his VP in the early days. Just ask Adams and Jefferson how much they loved each other!
As for a symbol, I rather like kangaroos. No reason, just like them.
Well, if the country is going to Hell in a hand basket anyway, let's give it a boost in that general direction...
Kucinich/Rand Paul
ISTV-
Spoken like someone safely across the border...;-)
dangerfield.
Here's a view of we across the border peops ... a larger percentage of us are following the primaries than Americans are. Always keep an eye on the guy with a big stick.
I was "Canadian" in the oughts, whenever I was in Europe, fewer arguments with London Cabbies...
Have a place in Vancouver Overlooking the Lions...
If I had but one reason to like Obama it would be that he has unruffled a lot of feathers in Europe. I suspect you are from New York or Acron, you might want to play at being Canadian in the south till November.
dangerfield - Do you rent rooms at your place? I haven't been back to the Capilano suspension bridge in way too long!
Haha...JoAnne, I would, but I wouldn't want to get you barred from the DDI...:)
One of my favorite places in the world...
I am the (alas, aging) Boy from New York City...
Where are you located in the Great White North, eh?
In the Sea of Poutine ... Montreal
I love Montreal...in the summertime...;)
Actually, latest poll has him up to 7%
The poll this article cited is more than a week old
here's the link
Um, I guess you just need to go to South Carolina polls at real clear politics, I can't post the link
Huntsman appears to be polling as well as Perry in South Carolina. That's an amazing feat given that Perry is spending ten to twenty times as much in a southern state that fits Perry's religious tenets and foghorn rhetoric. Go Huntsman. His campaign is no more quixotic than Paul's, because anybody with Paul's positions on war and civil disobedience could never be nominated by the Grand Ole Pharts. You have to applaud those who take the fight to idiocy in this country. There are never enough of them.
What we have in these comments is clear proof that Americans do not like one another, and thereby goes our only chance of survival in this world. China would eat us alive now, because we don't consider our fellow Americans to be our friends. Well, then, who do we have for friends? Fifty per cent of our fellow Americansd are no longer our friends. Congrats, Democarats. You have destroyed our nation from within. Left Wingers, Right Wingers, is that all there is to America? C'mon, man!