PHOTOS: REUTERS
Former Utah governor and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman announced his bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination and intention to take on former boss Barack Obama. In a speech with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop, Hunstman promised voters a civil campaign that will be focused on "who will be the better President, not who’s the better American."
Watch the announcement AFTER THE JUMP ...
Hunstman is positioning himself as an "unconventional" moderate in an already crowded Republican field, notes BusinessWeek. The former Republican governor is also "seeking support from LGBT Republicans" and hoping to attract independents by his record on LGBT issues in Utah, reports Gay Politics.
"On the domestic front, and as it specifically pertains to our greater LGBT community, Governor and Mrs. Huntsman are particularly supportive of our issues," wrote Charles T. Moran, an openly gay Republican political consultant, in a letter to potential LGBT donors.
Moran was likely referring to a 2009 announcement by the then-governor’s staff that he endorsed a bill that would have provided civil unions for same-sex couples in Utah, a move that shocked the political establishment at the time. He also supported laws banning employment and housing discrimination against LGBT Utahns, according to the Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder.
While Hunstman has been steadfast in his opposition to marriage equality and abortion rights, he’s refused to back off these more moderate stances on LGBT issues as he gears up for a presidential run. In efforts to talk about his support for civil unions with socially conservative groups, Huntsman’s operatives say his views allign with those of former President George W. Bush. The campaign has not addressed whether that includes amending the U.S. Constitution to outlaw marriage for same-sex couples, an effort Bush supported.
Huntsman is skipping the social conservatives-dominated Iowa Republican caucus. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won that contest in 2008
And in what could possibly be interpreted as a reflection of Huntsman's perceived viability, his official announcement today "drew the first direct response from the Obama campaign to any new GOP presidential contender," reports ABC News.
Watch the announcement AFTER THE JUMP ...
If you notice in both photos, Lady Liberty has her back turned to Huntsman. We can take that as a message.
Huntsman may be promoted as a “moderate” by the media, but only because the other Republicans are mad dogs.
Posted by: Jim | 22 June 2011 at 00:05
Why do politicians always run on "what I will do once I'm president" and not on "here are my accomplishments as _______" let my past record speak for itself. You don't have to be president to help Americans.
Posted by: gb | 22 June 2011 at 03:27
Hunstman will become the media darling, since he seems so much more rational than the rest of the GOP cadidates. he'll get a pass for quite a while.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 22 June 2011 at 07:37
I would vote for him 2016. He would make a good president. I just don't think he should run next year.
Posted by: Zambos27 | 22 June 2011 at 18:11
Huntsman is the one who could beat my Beloved President SlimJim. He's the only only one who scares me because of his appeal to Independents. Forutunately, he cannot win his party's nomination. He's too middle of the road for crazy azz Republicans who control the nominating process.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 23 June 2011 at 08:05