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Huntsman Comes Alive! Jon Huntsman Polling In Third Place At 10% In New Hampshire

by Tommy Christopher | 8:40 am, September 22nd, 2011

» 23 comments

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman was once the candidate most feared by the Obama administration, but his 2012 presidential campaign has seen him languish below the margin of error in national polls. Huntsman’s campaign is touting a new poll out of New Hampshire, though, that shows signs of life for The Republican Who Believes In Science, as he’s polling in third place in the key early primary state, with 10%. The bad news is that he trails NH leader Mitt Romney by 31 points.

He’s also trailing Ron Paul, who pulled 14% in that poll, but he is beating Rick Perry, at 8%.

Okay, it’s not great news for Huntsman, but let’s remember that, at this time four years ago, Rudy Giuliani was leading the GOP polls, and Mitt Romney was polling in fourth place. It’s early enough that Huntsman’s tortoise-v-hare strategy still has a chance. Eventually, he needs to be able to cut through the Perry/Romney noise, and this is a baby step in that direction.

When President Obama appointed Huntsman as US Ambassador to China, most political observers saw the move as at least having the pleasant fringe benefit of possibly sidelining the Utah governor as a 2012 rival. Even earlier this year, the buzz around the White House was that Huntsman was their biggest worry for the President’s reelection prospects. Huntsman has the advantage of drawing a bright line between himself and all of the other candidates, but the base’s energy is with his rivals.

Currently, Mitt Romney is getting most of the sanity vote that Huntsman needs, but if either Perry or Romney implodes, maybe get photographed looking into a microscope, Huntsman has a decent shot in a two-man race.

Here’s the full text of Huntsman campaign manager Matt David‘s email to supporters:

We have exciting news to share this evening.

A new poll just released shows Governor Huntsman’s support jumping in New Hampshire, and confirms what we have known all along about Jon: once you get to know him, you’re for him.

The poll from Suffolk University shows Jon leapfrogging to third place in the critical and first-in-the-nation primary state – garnering 10 percent of the vote, which more than doubles his support from a few months ago.

This comes on the heels of an endorsement from former Secretary of Homeland Security and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, and the roll-out of a prominent economic team which includes Nike founder Phil Knight and Morgan Stanley chairman John Mack.

It’s hard to believe it was just three months ago when Governor Huntsman launched his campaign, and his message of serious leadership and bold solutions is beginning to break through.

What we need now are the financial resources to compete with the so-called leaders of this race.

We have an end-of-month fundraising deadline that’s critical to maintaining our momentum. If you’ve already made a donation, thank you! We need your help again now, and I urge a new donation in the amount you can afford by visiting our website now. We’ll put your investment to work immediately on the ground in New Hampshire and elsewhere.

If you’ve not made a donation yet, these poll numbers should help reinforce why it’s critical you contribute before September 30. The amount you contribute isn’t as important as your participation. Supporters have been contributing in the amounts they can afford, anywhere from $5 to $2,500. So please visit our website and make a donation in the amount you can afford. We are counting on your support.

The more voters learn about Governor Huntsman, the more they are rallying behind him. Now is the time to support this campaign and its vision for America’s future.

Sincerely,

Matt David
Campaign Manager

2012 Election, Jon Huntsman, Mitt Romney, Polls, Rick Perry

http://www.facebook.com/tony.westover Tony Westover

He’s polls at 1% nationally. Hell, friggin’ Rick Santorum is even beating this guy.
Anonymous

Hey Media you are not picking McCain/Huntsman this time we are not falling for it. We are going to look into all backgrounds and records and not be sloppy like 2008 voters were. If there is a story postitive or negative get to the truth and look behind the curtain. In other words do the job the so called Journalist should be doing.
Anonymous

Big hairy deal! Now if Frampton were to ” Comes Alive ” again…..
Anonymous

Right! report on the 3rd place but not the guy above him (Ron Paul).
Glutton

Huntsman lost any chance to win by taking up the Obama administration’s offer to be their face towards Chinese policy. I think he would’ve made a great candidate otherwise, but I have to admit that really does disqualify him to be the Republican nominee. Could you imagine if the Democrats nominated Bush’s ambassador to Iraq to be their presidential nominee? That’s basically what Huntsman would be like for Republicans.
Anonymous

Mitt Romney is definitely detracting the rational vote from Huntsman. Hopefully people will see Huntsman as the alternative seeing how wonky Mitt Romney can be.
Anonymous

How can you possibly compare China to Iraq? Accepting a job to serve your country disqualifies one just because the President is a big bad other party member? Huntsman served under Reagan, Bush Senior, and GB. Does that not counter balance his service irrelevant to domestic partisanship under a (D)? Not like Chinese/US relations were that different under the Republicans…
Anonymous

Right… How dare they report on a guy who gets significantly less coverage than the others! Especially with something that is newsworthy. The true media picks like Romney and Perry are the ones who they refuse to shut up about. Their lack of coverage of their non appointed ‘top tier’ must be a conspiracy in favor of the candidates they hardly mention!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jj-Wisniewski/100002654075475 Jj Wisniewski

In my state independents can’t vote in primaries and we’re trying to change that. If we were allowed to vote, Huntsman would be my choice. Perry is to far to the right, Bachmann’s honeymoon is over, and Romney is a flip flopper. The only adult in the room is Huntsman, who is not trying shove religious beliefs down the throats of the public. I’m a christian, but I don’t care that he’s a Mormon. I think him having adopted 2 kids in addition to his own five and his family values speak for themselves. It’s too bad that the party has fallen off the cliff in this primary.
Rodpardeylv

Democrats don’t think that way.
Anonymous

Unfortunately for him, it won’t last.

He’s still far too sane for those Tea Party stalwarts in the Republican Party.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WH3ZLMM7CUKUHUIMK4TKXW6SQE John

Huntsman has gotton the most coverage ever for a candidate that never polls over 1% nationally. It’s why nobody trusts the media. I have read literally 20 glowing ass kissing “articles” about Huntsman over the last few months. It’s disgusting.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LDO6LIQBI2JQ4Q5MWLWBKGKSJY bensanity

If that was true then the headline would’ve been…Suck it Establishment! Ron Paul Polls Second in New Hampshire.
http://twitter.com/JTVolkens Jeremy Volkens

I live in New Hampshire and am very active politically. In all honesty I can’t say I know a single person who supports Jon Huntsman.

A wise person once said, “Polls are for strippers and skiers.”
Anonymous

What world are you living in? After watching the commentary of the CNN debate last week I couldn’t even tell if Huntsman was even there. They wouldn’t shut up about Perry, Romney, and even Bachmann. The media was obsessing over Romney and Perry before they even entered the race. If Huckabee was there they would have been obsessing over him as well. They wont shut up about Sarah Palin even though she hasn’t and doesn’t appear to be entering the race. They even include her in polls even though she isn’t even running. The people Huntsman gets more coverage than are Johnson and Roemer who almost don’t get any at all.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-devoting-more-coverage-to-gop-candidates-than-cnn-or-fox-news/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-devoting-more-coverage-to-gop-candidates-than-cnn-or-fox-news/

Doesn’t even chart, and not much has changed with coverage of him since then besides an article here and there in the midst of the Perry/Romney/Bachmann barrage. That’s a fact though republicans don’t seem to like Huntsman for believing in facts. Not being anti science =/= not being a conservative btw. People sell their ideology short by promoting such rhetoric. Your conspiracy simply does not stand. You’re asserting a lot without when the fact is that coverage of him is sub par. Regardless of if you like the tone towards this Republican candidate or not in the very little coverage he gets.

Your conspiracy would stand better and might actually have a strand of fact behind it if you made the assertion that the media is out to propel Perry and Romney as the only visible choices. Another one that might stand is that his polls are so low because the media refuses to cover him much, in order to ensure he doesn’t stand a chance. Now that sounds disgusting! And can stand. Unlike yours which are just baseless.
Anonymous

Mediate does plenty of stories like that. Not saying the MSM does in general though
Anonymous

@bensanity
Mediate does plenty of stories like that. Not saying the MSM does in general though

Dont’ know why this is posting here and not where I replied…
RW

You are so right – Huntsman is on the Sunday morning shows all the time. The liberal media keep pushing him. 1) because he can’t win 2) if he wins – he’s liberal like they are. Win – win.
RW

Does the liberal media give Huntsman so much airtime
1) so they take up airtime and are able to say they have given airtime to a Republican
or
2) no other Republican will go on these MSM shows which are attracting only liberal audiences???
Anonymous

Sounds like those 10% may actually believe in science and common sense.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Farax-Shirwac/100001414842261 Farax Shirwac

You’re kidding right? Santorum? Hahahahahahaha
Ho Li Crap

You’re right, Huntsman is far too logical and reasoned to be accepted by the republican party anywhere in this country.
Jerry Rose

Funny, but the voters ain’t buying it.