White House Expects Huntsman to Resign, Explore 2012 Bid

[jefferson_dem]

WH Expects Huntsman to Resign, Explore 2012 Bid
January 31, 2011 6:44 AM

White House officials tell ABC News that the Obama administration expects the US Ambassador to China, former GOP Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, to step down from his post in the coming months to explore a possible 2012 run for president.

Huntsman did not respond to a request for comment. News of the White House's expectations of Huntsman's departure was first reported by Politico.

President Obama was asked about rumors of Huntsman's departure earlier this month at a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, where Huntsman sat front row, center.

“I couldn’t be happier with the ambassador’s service, and I’m sure he will be very successful in whatever endeavors he chooses in the future,” the president said.

With a mischievious smile, the president added: "“And I’m sure that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary.”

At the Gridiron dinner Saturday night, White House Chief of Staff William Daley joked that President Obama "has no hard feelings," a White House source noted. "He just did an interview with the Tea Party Express about how integral he has been to the success of the Obama administration.”

-Jake Tapper

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/01/wh-expects-huntsman-to-resign-explore-2012-bid.html

[impik]

1. This guy could ba a danger

[Pirate Smile]

2. This is just bizarre to me.

[bluethruandthru]

3. If he wins the republican nomination, it will send my teabagger sister and her friends

over the edge! :) She's a huge proponent of prayer in school and thinks we need more "religion" in our daily lives, blah, blah, blah. Doesn't believe in the separation of church and state. The funny thing is, we both grew up in Utah and we aren't mormon. I like to point out to her that she's okay with prayer in school and religion in government as long as it's HER religion. I ask her how she'd like it if we had a mormon president - like Mitt. That always shuts her up! She wasn't happy with how we non-mormons were treated when we lived there.

[sadbear]

4. Another Mormon?

Wasn't he governor of Utah?

[argonaut]

5. He's actually one of the only Republicans worth a damn.

If for some reason a GOPer had to win in 2012, I could live with President Huntsman. And yeah, he could be a threat to Obama, but he's not gonna make it out of a primary dominated by Teabaggers.

[Safetykitten]

6. Where are the " he will be in Obama's pocket and this is genius" people?

was that not the plan? When we asked why, oh why would he select a republican we were told by many here that this was all part of the "big genius plan" and Huntsman would NEVER do something like run for President.

So THAT went well.

[FrenchieCat]

9. If you think the Teabaggers will vote for one who JUST worked for the Obama admin for 2 years......

I've got a bridge to sell you.

He'll split the Western Mormon vote with Romney come the primaries,
and not much else. If the Moderate Republicans put him over the top somehow
and he wins the "R" primaries, watch the teabaggers split off as a party,
and run their own candidate!

Yes, it's going well! :rofl:

[jenmito]

7. I wandered off to Freeperville, and not ONE person was for him. They hate him as much as they hate

"Juan McCain" and Mitt Romney.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. I expect him to explore and decide not to run...

Huntsman is a smart man. He isn't A) going to run against a popular president and B) run this close to serving under that president.

He'll wait for the Republican Party to moderate itself before jumping in in 2016, IMO.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Aren't you from Utah? If so, you would know.

[tanyev]

11. Does Huntsman really think that people who believe Obama is the Antichrist

will cast a primary vote for someone Obama appointed as an ambassador? They'll give him the bum's rush off the stage at the first debate.

[impik]

12. Over at Huff and Bluff Howard Fineman is drooling all over Huntsman

Yea, this is your top "progressive" website.