Perry Testing The Waters, Huntsman Announces He's Going To Announce

While we wait for Ace's debate opus, some news from two guys who weren't there.

First, via Major Garrett, Texas Governor Rick Perry starts to make the rounds.

Perry’s recent out-of-state trips, including his appearance tonight in the Big Apple, have heightened interest, and scrutiny, about Perry jumping into the GOP presidential primary. Perry bashed Barack Obama in Los Angeles on Sunday and his speech scheduled at the Grand Hyatt near Grand Central Station this evening had originally been a slot reserved for businessman Donald Trump, who is now out of the running.

Perry also will head to North Carolina for a meeting of the Republican Governor’s Association, and this coming weekend he will hit New Orleans for a GOP event that looks a lot like a cattle call for White House hopefuls.

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“I have a lot of out-of-state travel that some might analyze that ‘Oh he’s got a game plan and they’re implementing it.’ That’s not correct. There’s not a game plan,” Perry said. “I’m giving it some thought. There are a lot of people calling and saying, 'Hey, we would like you to consider getting into the race.'”

I know a lot of people are excited about Perry but I think a lot of it is based on 2nd and 3rd hand accounts. I'm not saying he won't be great, I just don't too many of us who aren't in Texas have seen him in action. He seems to have a strong story to tell, so I'm looking forward to him getting in the mix.

Jon Huntsman on the other hand, not so much.

I watched last night's debate and had many thoughts on it, none of them however were, "You know what this field really needs? A candidate like Jon Huntsman who wanted a bigger stimulus and who called Barack Obama "a remarkable leader" in a non-ironic way."

But run he will.

On his Facebook page Monday, Mr. Huntsman posted: “I’m getting into this because we’re about to hand over a country with $14.2 trillion in debt, $100 billion in spending per month, 9.1% unemployment, and no relief in sight… for the first time in history we’re facing the prospect that the next generation are going to get a country… that’s less good, less capable, less competitive than the one we got. And I say that’s totally unacceptable.”

Mr. Huntsman joins the field after a two-year stint serving as the U.S. ambassador to China, a post Mr. Obama tapped him for at the outset of his presidency. In order to win the nomination, the former Utah governor will have to convince Republican primary voters that his service in the Obama administration shouldn’t disqualify him as a candidate.

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Mr. Huntsman has said he will stake his prospects on a strong showing in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary and forego Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses where social-issues conservatives hold more sway. He attributed the decision to his opposition ethanol subsidies, a stance Iowa corn farmers may oppose but wouldn’t necessarily disqualify him to the rest of the electorate.

Mr. Huntsman supports same-sex civil unions and has advocated for legislation to curb carbon pollution, two positions that could put him at odds with conservative Republican primary voters.

Want some more Huntsman goodness? He won't attack Obama by name. Yeah, what could wrong with that plan?

Jon Huntsman '12: Because Tim Pawlenty Isn't Nice Enough!

posted by DrewM. at 02:23 PM

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