Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
One of the reasons She Who Must Not Be Named has so many ardent fans is because she's just completely unafraid to go after her political opposition. Jon "One Vote In Iowa" Huntsman is going to fire up the base with, uh, the opposite approach:
Jon Huntsman is trying out a novel strategy: running for president without criticizing the incumbent by name.
Since returning from his post as ambassador to China last month, Huntsman has made scant mention of the man who appointed him in May 2009—President Barack Obama. And his would-be campaign officials say that won’t change when the former Utah governor officially launches his campaign.
He says the tactic will remain the same with Republican rivals and that he's just sick and tired of political division. Whatever else might be said about Huntsman, he's just not picking up on the zeitgeist, right? The average voter -- much more the Republican primary voter -- doesn't think political division is the problem so much as that the country is going to h-e-double-hockey-sticks in a handbasket.
But what do I know? Maybe this strategy will move Huntsman from one Iowa voter to two or three.
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Comments :
Aug '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
Sounds like his consultants know better than to walk away from a fool and his money.
Jan '11
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
He's just sick and tired of political division?
That's logically no different from saying that he can't stand opposition.
And. That's. Not. A. Good. Sign.
Sep '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
First, this is unrealistic. If you don't use someone's name people still know who you are talikg about, it's like another layer of artifice applied. Get real.
Second, any candidate who is afraid of speaking frankly or even bluntly about the problems we are facing and is unwilling to point fingers and name names is an absolute no-go. I doubt this time such a candidate would get the nomination at all, but if he did, he would face a third party candidate and lose the general. I have no doubt of it. Huntsman doesn't hunt.
Jul '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
First, "No Labels"
Now, "No Name"
I've got a label for these "no"-nothings......
Perhaps they can join together and ignore the obvious along with reality.
Jun '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
I've said it more than once on Ricochet, Huntsman looks good, occasionally sounds good, but has no business trying to be President. His major accomplishment is being born the son of a rich man.
Sure, you run for office, but you run against someone.
May '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
Maybe Huntsman is aspiring to the generic Republican we've been waiting for!
Aug '10
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
Mmm... sounds to me like he wants to be even more generic than "generic Republican" -- and "more generic than generic Republican" is a level of generic I hadn't thought possible.
Mar '11
Re: Huntsman's Curious 'No Name' Campaign
His major accomplishment, if I recall correctly, is speaking Mandarin fluently and acting as ambassador to one of the 21st centuries major global powers, as well as serving as a deep-red state's governor. That may not make him the candidate we've been waiting for; it may not make him a man of prudence or a legislator of far-reaching vision; it may not make him Presidential material. But, I'd say it is rather more than just being born the son of a rich man.
Last I heard him say, he argued not that he was tired of political division, but that he was tired of the politics of personal attack. So long as he doesn't pull any punches on policy differences, I don't really care if he does it with a smile. I certainly haven't made up my mind about the guy, and he's got a long way to go to introduce himself and his politics to the voting public. But were he to get the nomination, he's going to be 1 on 1 against Obama on the stage. I don't think theres much question about who he's criticizing.