Gibbs: Huntsman Leaving Post Soon, No Word On 2012 Run

WASHINGTON -- White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman has informed the Obama administration he "plans to leave during the first part of this year." Whether the former Utah governor will go on to dip his toes in the Republican presidential primary, Gibbs didn't say.

"I have talked to several people and I have not heard anybody say they know what the future holds for the ambassador except to say, as I said earlier, that he will leave sometime in the first part of the year," Gibbs said.

Speaking on the same day several outlets reported that Huntsman was making preparations to explore a 2012 bid, Gibbs offered a bit of slowdown warning to the American ambassador to China. "The president, and I think the American people, expect that somebody who holds the post of Ambassador from the United States to China will dedicate their full energy and time to that position," he said, "and we believe that Ambassador Huntsman believes that as well."

The departure of Huntsman from his post has spurred the political observing class to dream up scenes of a former Obama official taking on the president he served. But the speculation has always been tempered by a basic question: how could a Republican whose main source of appeal (circa 2008) was his castigation of rigid conservatism find his way to the Republican nomination?

One GOP operative suggested that Huntsman could present himself as a more sincere version of Mitt Romney. Like Romney, Huntsman is a well-financed Mormon, but unlike the former Massachusetts Governor, he hasn't signed health care legislation that resembles Obama's own signature law.

The operative added that there is no love lost between the two Republicans. But another GOP hand who knows both said that while they "don't really have much of" a relationship, that Hunstman's father raised campaign funds for Romney in 2008.

UPDATE 5:36 p.m. ET:

Politico reported early Monday evening that Huntsman has submitted a letter of resignation to the president:

In a letter hand-delivered to the White House, the former Utah governor said that he wants to return to the United States by May, the associate said. The letter thanks Obama for the opportunity to serve the country and praises the U.S. embassy staff in Beijing.

Comments

[Gorn]

10:23 AM on 02/01/2011

Huntsman will differ from Obama in a number of ways, He has huge experience, he's honest,
he knows how to manage, he's not a radical, he won't have Ramadan parties, and he will not turn the country into a Communist state.But it won't matter, in two more years of Obamas incompetence, people would vote for Mr Potato Head.

[euthman]

10:50 AM on 02/01/2011

You forgot to add that Huntsman is not a Kenyan-born Muslim married to Stokely Carmichael's clone, with Chinese-engineered hunter-killer androids for daughters.

[kats]

10:14 AM on 02/01/2011

That dog won't hunt :)

[Mikecola]

09:52 AM on 02/01/2011

2012. Manchurian Candidate v. Sachschurian Candidate

[Str8upNya]

09:50 AM on 02/01/2011

He does not look as goofy as Obama and does not have Obamas big ears that may swing a lot of independents his way.

[Cory111]

09:53 AM on 02/01/2011

I notice you don't have your picture posted, is there a reason?

[kats]

10:16 AM on 02/01/2011

he doesn't want to fry any eyeballs

[AncientTerp]

09:00 AM on 02/01/2011

Oh good. Another heavyweight contender for the Republican presidential nominee.

[USCOASTGUARDVET]

08:34 AM on 02/01/2011

666,,,,,,,He's back.

[exPatPatti]

07:44 AM on 02/01/2011

A huntsman is a huge, hairy, poisonous spider that lies in wait before ambushing it's prey. It's the reason I sleep with a can of Raid on my bedside table. Too bad you can't buy Con Be Gone.

[USCOASTGUARDVET]

08:31 AM on 02/01/2011

Very Funny!!! And true.

[sunshine14]

07:43 AM on 02/01/2011

Economy in crises, and out for self interest only. Another quieter, those who say yes, but really mean no. Because it is not about those I serve, it is always about ME ME first. No loyalty of service found here, nor a man of his word when accepting and saying yes.

[themiddleistheproblem]

07:30 AM on 02/01/2011

It will be fun to watch how much Chinese money he gets caught taking in. He will never make it out of a primary anyway. The manchurian canidate label has never applied more.

[ValuesVoter]

07:28 AM on 02/01/2011

He's still a Mormon. Not gonna happen....Evangelical strongholds in the South will give him a real wake up call....especially South Carolina.

[One more Thing]

08:05 AM on 02/01/2011

One look at what the Mormons have done to the state of Arizona is reason for CAUTION!

[bisonbison]

09:19 AM on 02/01/2011

Not to mention Prop 8 in California.

[Mr MOTO]

10:15 AM on 02/01/2011

Do you mean Utah?

[USCOASTGUARDVET]

08:32 AM on 02/01/2011

Totally right and a lot of other people who think his religion is a cult.

[JLindsley]

07:15 AM on 02/01/2011

Another opportunistic Republican abandons his post, way too early, remind you of the 1/2 term Governor anyone.

Jump ship at the glimmer of something more prestigious (or lucrative in the Gov's case) Makes you wonder what he was thinking when he gave up his Governorship to go to China a year ago.

[oxygen]

07:35 AM on 02/01/2011

prayer did it

BECK - ROMNEY 2012

[AD]

09:04 AM on 02/01/2011

ROFL O YEAH!!!!

[Farzan]

07:43 AM on 02/01/2011

Excellent points.

[yorkie]

06:41 AM on 02/01/2011

The continuing never ending presidential candidate watch by the media and other pollsters make a lot of $ of this stuff and keep on no matter what,,,,,the bottom line is we need to re-elect Pres Obama,,,,,,,do not be fooled and turn back to more conservative policies,, rt wing pro life ideas,,,,,I reject those who want to keep on with bad econ trickle down theories as well....We need to slash the defense budget,,,,more $ for schools, colleges, public trains/rail, reform election laws and campaign finance, shorten the length of campaigns as well.... Be vigilant to keep pushing for expanded health care and keep reform of it alive !

[mlkx]

02:31 AM on 02/01/2011

An billionaire ambassador who stayed a little over a year in his position of 'service to the nation' might want to ask a half-term governor to be his running mate and then if they get elected no one will be surprised when they do less than a 1/2 azzed job.

[alpaig]

02:54 AM on 02/01/2011

Let's see, he did a full term as Governor, was relected with almost 80% of the vote (the right wing hates him so he mustv'e pulled quite a few Dems) and left with an approval rating in the high 80's. He did one year into his 2nd term. Was considering a Presidential run, then Obama's campaign manager publicly states he's the only one in the GOP he gets a bit queasy about coming up against and lo and behold, Obama asks him to work for him and off he goes to China. He made a 2 year committment which started in the summer of 2009 and now he's leaving in May of 2011. Which, in case you haven't noticed, quite a few people have left this administration having done barely 2 years recently - are they quitters too? His State was considered the best managed State in the nation under him. He's ran a corporation, was a trade representative and Ambassador to Singapore- now China. Helps he speaks Chinese. He's moderate (to the point of almost being liberal ) on immigration, gay rights, the stimulus, education and climate change. Yeah, that sounds Palin. Actually it sounds like you don't know much about the guy.

[mlkx]

03:24 AM on 02/01/2011

Fact: He arrived here in Beijing late August of 2009. He officially resigned on January 31, 2012. He says he wants to be back in the US by May.

The post of ambassador to China is important and an ambassador on their way out will not be effective in their post. By announcing his resignation now, he has just dumped massive amounts of work on embassy staff which he so gratuitously praised.

Anyway you put it…he made a 2 year commitment that he is not meeting it.

Can’t Republicans count to 24...

[Eric N Davis]

06:12 AM on 02/01/2011

Technically, he does not speak Chinese. There is no single language called: "Chinese". Chinese is a cultural identity, describing people or customs of China. The language that Huntsman is able to speak is known as Mandarin.

Secondly, how do you justify calling August of 2009 to January 31, 2011 "2 years"? Last time I checked, that's only about 17 months. What happened, did you once make a "2 year committment" to your Mormon church, and then quit and go home after 17 months?

[KingLeopold]

03:18 AM on 02/01/2011

Hey sure beats a guy who doesn't even stay for his entire press conference... Let Bill speak!

[BlacknProud310]

08:26 AM on 02/01/2011

Ohhhh, now that was cold. Faved and Fanned.

[Mr MOTO]

10:18 AM on 02/01/2011

Fanned!

[sweatermoose]

01:10 AM on 02/01/2011

Maybe I'm alone here, but I think that Jon Huntsman looks like Homer Simpson's boss, Montgomery Burns, only with a tan. I just can't shake the image.

[garystartswithg]

02:13 AM on 02/01/2011

Monty Burns is a Republican stereotype -- you would be hard pressed to find one that didn't resemble him. Even Snowe and Hutchinson look like him. Jindal and Steele too. Joseph Cao, not so much -- and he is history.

[LeeCalif]

11:46 PM on 01/31/2011

It's going to be Huntsman w/ Jeb bush as his running mate (V.P.)

[garystartswithg]

02:14 AM on 02/01/2011

Can't wait for the Palin "I'm melting, I'm melting." It will be the 2012 highlight.

[Eric N Davis]

06:18 AM on 02/01/2011

Sarah Palin in office would be like taking a 4 year long white water rafting trip. It may kill us, but if it doesn't, we'll have some crazy @$$ photos of the trip.

[a700hp]

05:12 AM on 02/01/2011

sounds like another losing potus ticket for the righties.

[oxygen]

07:39 AM on 02/01/2011

"bring em on" said the cheerleader