Salon on Huntsman: Does the media's candidate have a prayer?

[flpoljunkie]

TUESDAY, JUN 21, 2011
Does the media's candidate have a prayer?

Jon Huntsman has won fawning coverage from the press. Will it actually hurt him with Republicans?
BY STEVE KORNACKI


AP
Jon Huntsman

Jon Huntsman doesn't have a significant national profile, barely registers in polls, has already announced that he won't compete in the lead-off Iowa caucuses, and is viewed with suspicion by many of his party's activists and interest group leaders. In other words, when it comes to the 2012 presidential race, he is a long shot -- a very, very, very long shot.

But his formal campaign announcement Tuesday morning -- which apparently drew 100 people (if that) to Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J. -- came with a level of media attention more typically reserved for a front-runner, complete with a glowing 6,000-word New York Times Magazine profile. Why? Because Huntsman has already established himself as the media's great Republican hope for 2012.

If you've read about the former Utah governor recently, you've probably seen him described as uncommonly "moderate," "thoughtful" or "reasonable" compared to his fellow Obama era Republicans. That, as Andrew Leonard pointed out Monday, this image doesn't entirely square with most of the positions he's now taking doesn't seem to matter. The political press has decided that Huntsman is the best available fit for its favorite role: the courageous, non-pandering, straight talker -- someone whose struggles in the polls and with his own party's interest group leaders is testament to his maturity and decency as a leader.

Huntsman has been picked for this role because, among other things, he served in the Obama administration, has acknowledged the science of climate change, seemed to support the stimulus in 2009, and has struck a relatively moderate tone on social issues (gay rights in particular) in the past. It's a testament to the rigid ideological conformity of today's GOP that this is enough to stand out. It also helps that Huntsman seems to have decided that winning the media's affection is his best strategy, at least at this stage of his campaign.

more...

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/06/21/jon_huntsman_enters

[Thrill]

1. Mark Halprin has a weird obsession with this guy

Did he ever work for Huntsman or something?

[flpoljunkie]

2. Halperin's not the only media guy obsessed with Huntsman. but he's definitely obsessed..

[woo me with science]

3. Maverick! nt

[monmouth]

4. I honestly think he is going to catch on and be the candidate. He's not

an "insider" as far as I know and even I find him appealing from afar compared to the other runners.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Hard to imagine when their primary voters seem drawn to hard righters Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. He probably would've been a good Republican candidate

ca. 1996, 2000, or 2004 when Republican primary voters might've been able to tolerate a more moderate Republican politician like himself. However, I can't see him making it through the GOP "hate pit" primaries of 2012, particularly given his previous affections for President Obama, as well as his service in his administration. Those two things alone will probably prove toxic enough to the Republican Tea Party Cult. Maybe, he'll be more appealing in 2016 if and when the GOP ever regains its sanity. Heck, Romney might not even make it through the GOP primaries, although his perception as the early frontrunner (and possibly the only semi-sane candidate) seems to have elevated his status somewhat. Whatever Huntsman might have to do in order to appease the Republican Tea Party Cult enough to win the primaries is not going to appeal to many GE voters IMHO. He has, I believe, already endorsed the radical Ryan Budget, hasn't he? :shrug:

[golfguru]

7. GOP moderates have zero chance in 2012

It will be extreme right winger getting the nomination.
You betcha!

[olegramps]

8. The problem is that he could have great appeal to the Independents.

I believe that we tend to forget that its the Independents that determine who wins the election. You can either attract them as Obama did or ignore them at your own peril.

From what I have read Obama has loss the overwhelming support of both the youth and Independents. Whether he can regain their support is questionable. Given the financial climate for a Democrat to be successful the candidate must offer some real hope of leveling the playing field so that American workers can actually compete in the global economy. This would require the bold step of imposing tariffs and rescinding the existing trade agreements that have in effect only profited corporations at the expense of both American and foreign workers.

I would like to remind American workers that until the Civil War the only source of federal income was tariffs. It was the intent of the founding fathers to make the United States an independent industrial state. This should coupled with the determination to reverse the massive transfer of wealth that has taken place totally at the expense of the working class. Inheritance taxes should be dramatically increased to confiscate the money stolen from the working class along with return to WWII levels of taxation on the wealthy who have profited from the massive out-sourcing of jobs and unjustified wars that have brought the nation to the point of bankruptcy. Until a candidate comes forth that is willing to awaken the average worker to the facts and wage an outright war on the oligarchy there is little hope for the survival of the Middle Class.

[flpoljunkie]

9. His potential threat is to Romney in New Hampshire--a must win state for both Romney, Huntsman.

Independents have no Democratic primary to vote in there, so Huntsman could potentially win New Hampshire. Not sure how his NH town meeting went yesterday--after his underwhelming announcement in New Jersey.

[olegramps]

10. Obama must reconnect with the Independents regardless of who is the Republican candidate.

I appears to me that Obama has allowed himself to defined by the radical conservatives rather than establishing himself as the champion of the work class and the determined enemy of the oligarchs. The average workers whats clear uncomplicated assurances that their candidate is absolutely dedicated to protecting their interest. Isn't that what they expected when they supported Obama? A real hope for change and transparency. It is apparent that many don't believe that he has delivered and has been too quick to compromise. I don't know what will happen if he loses his base that worked so hard to get him elected. Time and time again I have read on this board that his former supporters with vote for him, but they won't contribute and won't hit the pavement.

[flpoljunkie]

11. Absolutely.