Early Trouble for Huntsman
Before this week, I had met precisely one person who favored Jon Huntsman over all other Republican candidates. This week traveling in New York, I've met four more Huntsman fans (incidentally, three out of those four were Obama voters in '08). Huntsman's name recognition has improved thanks in large part to copious media coverage. But despite the overwhelmingly positive attention --see, for instance, this fawning profile in the New York Times or this one in the WSJ-- Gallup reports that voters like Huntsman less the more they get to know him.
[Huntsman's] name recognition for the June 13-26 period is 39%, up from 20% earlier this year, but is the second lowest of any candidate Gallup tracks. More significantly, Huntsman's Positive Intensity Score is down to 2 from 5 a week ago. Earlier this year it had been as high as 15. Only 5% of Republicans who recognize Huntsman have a strongly favorable opinion of him, while 3% say they have a strongly unfavorable opinion.
The admiration of New York elites notwithstanding, it looks like the Huntsman campaign is off to a rough start.
(h/t David Weigel)
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May '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Given sodium pentathol, I suspect all four of your NYC Huntsman fans would admit they are really just embarrassed Democrats who want Huntsman to run against Obama for the Democrat nomination.
JH is Obama's Manchurian candidate. That is all.
Jun '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Honestly, I don't think I can support Huntsman, because I don't believe he can/will be tough enough on China.
Jun '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Whatever the question may be, Huntsman is not the answer.
May '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Huntsman has clearly become the New York Times-Washington Post Republican candidate. In the age of the Tea Party, he might as well throw in the towel now.
Dec '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
The media has anointed Huntsman as "moderate" and so they feel safe in supporting him. He's the "acceptable Republican."
Frankly, I think he or somebody behind him is trying to mimic John Anderson's 1980 campaign.
Jul '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Did anybody here happen to notice that Huntsman had lunch with George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush in Kennebunkport shortly before he announced?
Jul '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
You think they're backing him? Or pushed him to run? Why him, as opposed to Romney, or T-Paw?
Those questions aren't meant rhetorically, btw.
If Huntsman were an Anglican or Methodist...maybe I'd have something, sort of, I guess.
I just don't see it.
Edited on Jun 28, 2011 at 7:31pmJul '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
Palaeologus
You think they're backing him? Or pushed him to run? Why him, as opposed to Romney, or T-Paw?
Those questions aren't meant rhetorically, btw.
If Huntsman were an Anglican or Methodist...maybe I'd have something, sort of, I guess.
I just don't see it. · Jun 28 at 7:30pm
Edited on Jun 28 at 07:31 pm
I don't know what to tell you, but when Huntsman makes a pilgrimage to Kennebunkport, it must mean something.
Jun '11
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
I live in Salt Lake City, and yes, I voted Huntsman for governor. I can't quote the sum he spent to win that election, but I'm sure it would convince anyone he actually wanted the position. Two years later, at Obama's whispered bidding, he felt compelled to run away to China. At the time he said something roughly like: 'When the president asks you to do something for the country, how can you say no?' Well that would be fine, except that another two years later he decided it was time to do something else. The obvious problem in all this, is that the presidency requires, at least, a four year attention span.
Dec '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
He may have requested the meeting. Maybe even to get an endorsement. From what little I know about him, that kind of chutzpah is not beyond him.
Jun '10
Re: Early Trouble for Huntsman
I too am a Utahn who voted for Huntsman, and I agree down the line with you. These other jobs have been mere way-stations on the path to the job his family has decided he must have.
As to the Bush lunch, they're nice people, they'd probably feed Ron Paul or Michele Bachmann if they needed some food.