Historically, potent third parties or outside political movements have had one of two origins. On the one hand, they were driven by powerful personalities who did not fit cleanly within either of the major parties: Theodore Roosevelt (1912), George Wallace (1968), and H. Ross Perot (1992, 1996) are…
My colleague Michael Warren recently asked Jon Huntsman to comment on why he had failed to appeal to Republican voters, and got this response:
If Jon Huntsman’s presidential campaign had a theme or a defining characteristic—something voters might easily identify with the candidate—it was probably his often-repeated contention that the country was facing a “trust deficit” between its citizens and elected officials. It’s no small irony,…
Washington Times: "Conservatives feud over Santorum endorsement"
At the end of the New York Times blog post that first reported Jon Huntsman would be dropping out of the presidential race today, there's an interesting bit of analysis explaining why the former governor of Utah never caught fire within the Republican field:
Fox News's Bret Baier tweets:
There’s a lot of silliness on all sides of the Bain Capital debate.
The Daily: "Liberal diatribe on the financial crisis and tea party needs reality check when it comes to austerity that wasn’t"
Concord, N.H.
Manchester, N.H.
Newport, N.H.
There's no question Jon Huntsman has been praised by more Democrats and left leaning commentators than any of the other Republican presidential candidates. But until now, that praise has gone one way. Earlier this week, however, Huntsman's top fundraiser, Ann Herberger, announced her new “hero” was…
Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman both went up with their first television advertisements in New Hampshire on Thursday, just days before the primary on January 10. The Gingrich ad is a continuation of the former House speaker's big push to depict rival Mitt Romney as insufficiently conservative for…
The New Hampshire Union Leader reports:
Pittsfield, N.H.
Wayne MacDonald, the chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, has a general message for presidential candidates as the January 10 Granite State primary approaches: “Time’s a-wastin’.” MacDonald’s warning might as well be directed straight at Jon Huntsman’s New Hampshire campaign,…
National Journal: "McConnell Breaks With Boehner, Says House Should Pass Payroll Extension"
Plaistow, N.H.
1. I thought Newt Gingrich did not do well. Not just when he defended his (essentially indefensible) work at Freddie Mac, but also when he cited FDR as a model for how he would handle the court. Terrible argument, one that any self-proclaimed constitutional conservative should be concerned about.
Politico: "Romney preps Gingrich attack"
Associated Press: "Appeals court upholds Obama health care law"
Herman Cain reports a big online fundraising day yesterday.
Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman sat down last night with Steve Hayes, Bret Baier, Charles Krauthammer, and A. B. Stoddard for a roundtable interview:
USA Today: World Series game one is tonight -- play ball!
Las Vegas
At the beginning of the second hour of Tuesday night's debate in Hanover, New Hampshire, moderator Charlie Rose prompted each candidate to ask another candidate a question. More than half the candidates used the opportunity to take on Romney.
Another Republican presidential debate, another forceful performance by Mitt Romney. The subject was the economy, jobs, and finance—Romney’s strong suits—and he made the most of it, having more to say on those subjects and saying it more cogently than the other seven candidates.
A new Suffolk University poll of 400 likely voters shows former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney with a commanding lead in New Hampshire's GOP presidential primary, traditionally the first primary of the campaign season. At 41 percent, Romney is 27 points ahead of his closest rival in the state,…
A CBS News/New York Times poll taken from September 10th-15th (both before and after the most recent debate) shows Rick Perry with a 7-point edge (23 to 16 percent) over Mitt Romney among registered voters who intend to vote in a Republican primary or caucus. Newt Gingrich has moved into a tie with…
Former Homeland Security chief and governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge will endorse Jon Huntsman for president:
On Monday night, Republican presidential hopefuls met for a debate in Tampa, Florida. Perhaps one of the more incoherent exchanges that evening was when Texas governor Rick Perry attempted to explain his position on the war in Afghanistan.
Declare the pennies on your eyes: Jan Schakowsky doesn't think you deserve to keep all the money you earn.
Tonight's CNN/Tea Party Express Republican presidential debate focused primarily on the economy. Only two GOP presidential candidates were given the opportunity to weigh in on Afghanistan (there were no questions on Iraq, Libya, etc.)—former Utah governor and Obama administration diplomat Jon…
Jon Huntsman, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum have taken the stage in Tampa, Florida for the Tea Party Express/CNN debate. Moderator Wolf Blitzer announced that all 8 GOP presidential candidates were on stage. But they aren't . . .…
New York Times: "U.S. Is Set to Sue a Dozen Big Banks Over Mortgages"
Washington Post: "Coincidences don’t happen in presidential politics. Ever."
Reuters blogger and WEEKLY STANDARD contributor James Pethokoukis takes a look at Jon Huntsman's recently unveiled tax plan, and by golly, it might be the first thing about his candidacy that generates real excitement:
A reader, inspired, he says, “by the sudden outburst of poesy at THE WEEKLY STANDARD,” sends in this reflection on last night’s debate:
Hot Air: "Jay Carney: 'The White House doesn’t create jobs'"
New York Times: "Senate and House Split as Obama Is to Address Budget"
"Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as in Jeopardy"
The Good:
"Is Hugo Chavez Dying?"
Jon Huntsman joins Tim Pawlenty in criticizing Mitt Romney's record on health care. ABC's Jonathan Karl reports:
Earlier this month, an aide to Jon Huntsman promised that his candidate would resist the angry tone and name-calling of modern political campaigns. “I think he’ll make it clear where he disagrees when it comes to policy and where he wants to take this country, but for him this is a campaign based…
Senate majority leader Harry Reid had some kind words yesterday for the latest contender to join the Republican presidential field, Jon Huntsman. “In that race, if I had a choice, I would favor Huntsman over Romney,” Reid said, according to CNN. “But I don’t have a choice in that race.”
Former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, who was governor of Utah before serving in the Obama administration, has just announced that he's running for president. Huntsman joins the Republican field of at least seven others (Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Herman Cain,…
Rick Santorum welcomes Jon Huntsman to the GOP primary field with this little shot across the bow:
"NLRB tried to save America from dumb, unskilled Southern workers"
Well, I guess Obama's NRA endorsement is really out of the question.
David Brog: "Dana Milbank loses it"
The big GOP primary news of the day is Jon Huntsman's surprisingly strong showing in the straw poll at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans:
Henry Kissinger today had flattering things to say about former ambassador to China and Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman. “He certainly makes a good candidate,” Kissinger said at a meeting with bloggers to promote his latest book. “I saw him yesterday, as a matter of fact.”
The former ambassador to China and governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, who was noticeably absent from last night's Republican primary debate in New Hampshire, will reportedly announce that he's running for president next week. NBC reports:
The seven candidates on stage performed creditably last night, with two pretty clearly helping themselves—Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann. But since the stage at St. Anselm didn't feature all of the eventual candidates, one can also ask, which potential candidates who aren't yet in the race were…
The Faith and Freedom Conference, organized by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, met in Washington this weekend and previewed several Republican presidential primary candidates—including Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty, who are both committed to seeking the GOP nomination, as well as…
Ralph Reed, organizer of the Faith and Freedom Conference, introduced former Utah governor Jon Huntsman this morning as "a good conservative and a great friend." Huntsman, who previously served as President Obama's ambassador to China, said he would speak on two topics--"life and liberty." He used…
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who recently resigned his post as ambassador to China, is considering a run for president. And though he hasn't announced whether he'll seek the Republican nomination, already some conservatives have put together this ad, essentially labeling him a Republican in…
RINOs Under Attack: "Sources say Chaffetz is in against Hatch"
This morning, the newly appointed chair of the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), told reporters she questioned whether Republican presidential candidates like Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman believed in American exceptionalism.
Jon Huntsman, former Utah governor and Obama's ambassador, steps out onto the GOP presidential stage today in New Hampshire. In an interview with Good Morning America, Huntsman sought to define himself as a fiscal hawk, and foreign policy dove.
There is definite discontent among plugged-in Republicans about the GOP field. From what I gather, lots of people feel as though no candidate offers the right combination of conservatism, authenticity, and excitement. Those seem to be the main grievance points.
Hope and Change: "85% of New College Grads Move Back in with Mom and Dad"
"Senate Republicans Release Jobs Plan"
The conventional wisdom is that the emerging Republican field for 2012 is a very weak one. However, like so much else in the topsy-turvy age of Obama, the conventional wisdom on this one is completely upside down. The idea of a weak GOP field is almost as ridiculous as a debate about a…
Steve Hayward on Obama's Re-Election Prospects.
Jennifer Rubin: "Gates's spokesman does damage control"
Steve Clemons -- foreign policy wonk, notorious DC name-dropper and author of "what I can confidently describe as the most self-absorbed blog post I've ever read" -- goes all out for GOP Presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman in yesterday's Politico profile:
Steve Clemons -- foreign policy wonk, notorious DC name-dropper and author of "what I can confidently describe as the most self-absorbed blog post I've ever read" -- goes all out for GOP presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman in yesterday's Politico profile:
President Obama announced today that Commerce secretary and former Washington state governor Gary Locke--a third generation Chinese-American--will replace possible presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in April as the U.S. ambassador to China. The Associated Press reports:
He isn't the one they've been waiting for: "White House memo notes shortage of applicants for contest to have Obama to speak at high school graduation"
John Thune's announcement that he would not be running for president in 2012 has overshadowed another bit of news on the GOP primary front: current U.S. ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, has apparently taken a further step toward running for president, presumably as a Republican, with the launch…
The latest edition of Newsweek says that Jon Huntsman might be interested in running for president:
An EU diplomat and diplomats from 10 European countries tried to deliver a letter of congratualtions from EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso to Liu Xia, the wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo at her home in Beijing. They were prevented from entering by guards. Liu Xia is under…