GOP Debate: Jon Huntsman 'The Best He's Ever Been'

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. -- Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman's aides were ecstatic in the spin room after the debate, and they had reason to be: Their man turned in an appealing, level-headed, shrewd and well-informed performance. Whether it will make any difference is doubtful, but as a piece of stagecraft and appeal, Jon Huntsman's presentation of himself was spot on.

He may simply be too reasonable to be nominated -- or even to get much traction.

"He was the best he's ever been and he's getting better all the time," his top aide, Jon Weaver, told HuffPost minutes after the debate ended.

In the first debate that included Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Huntsman unveiled a clever appeal: that he has both the private-sector knowledge of Mitt Romney and the tax-cutting and job-creation track record of Perry.

He noted that Utah was number one nationally in job creation during his tenure and that he repeatedly cut taxes in his state.

He defended the science of climate change and evolution without directly accusing anyone else on the stage -- notably Perry, who has questioned both -- of being on the other, unpalatable side of the argument.

And he repeatedly brought the talk back to big themes: poverty and world affairs and a sense that America had lost its "core."

Huntsman continues to trail badly in the polls. He refuses to take various pledges. He can get establishment voters if Mitt Romney falters. But if Tea Party types take the time to look at his economic track record, they'd like what they'd see. With personal money in the billions and more competitiveness than meets the eye, Huntsman could be in it for the long haul, despite his miniscule standing in the polls.

He's clearly learning how this system works, and he looked more comfortable -- and was a bigger presence -- on this stage than he has been before.

With Perry going for the Tea Party (and Bachmann looking confused and fading fast), and with the others essentially non-factors -- Huntsman has reason to stick around.

Moreso after tonight.

Comments

[Conga]

05:31 PM on 09/12/2011

Stray thought....Huntsman was the only one the Pres. Obama singled out and made a point that if he ran he was sunk with Reps because he had been an ambassador under his administration.

Early sabotage of the best candidate? (Best as in someone both sides could stomach)

[Conga]

05:42 PM on 09/12/2011

Sorry, that should have read "Huntsman was the only one that Pres..."

[Conga]

05:06 PM on 09/12/2011

OK, I'm a Dem, but I wouldn't mind seeing Huntsman win the nomination. While not in favor with some of his policies he at least has a mind and seems willing to work for the country not just his party. He's the only candidate that doesn't scare me silly with the thought "What if he won?". He's the only candidate the Reps have that actually has some experience in global matters and to me that's important.

Figures their best is low in the polls. :(

[saul harmon gritz]

04:43 PM on 09/11/2011

Imagine that! Huntsman may be too reasonable to be nominated! That's a justified insult to our movers, shakers, and voters.What a shame!

[pajoly]

07:24 PM on 09/09/2011

Former Obama voter who stuck by him stubbornly for two years. ...I'd vote for Huntsman in a second over Obama. Obama is gutless and a political coward. He talks beautifully, but then does exactly the opposite of what he says. He is a corporatist shill who disrespects (and his staff is worse) those who voted for him. Obama's greatest is crime is the audacity of his fraud on a hopeful public who bet their last penny on him.

[advchaser]

09:51 AM on 09/09/2011

I like Huntsman every time I see him and would definitely support him. I wish the media would get off the Perry and Romney bandwagon. Hoping that he sticks around and keeps turning in A+ performances.

[dhinds]

04:33 PM on 09/08/2011

If Huntsman were to become POTUS, the USA might possibly discontinue the downward slide into inferno that began with GWB (or at least degrade more slowly).

[wonder6789]

08:04 PM on 09/08/2011

You mean as opposed to the 7 clowns next to him?
He's the only one that appears to possess a brain and a heart.

[saul harmon gritz]

04:46 PM on 09/11/2011

I disagree that it began with GWB; it began with Wilson and FDR. The inferno will begin in 2028-9, and end with total anarchy in 2040. Trust me.

[JustABriefThought]

01:04 PM on 09/08/2011

Huntsman is the only GOP that has the slightest prayer defeating President Obama; fortunately for the DEMS, there's not a chance on earth that he will be nominated by the cr@zies now holding the GOP hostage (they are getting really good at that).

He's also the only GOP that has a prayer of helping America get over Geo. W. Bush because he has functioning brain cells.

[Mario Trujillo]

12:47 PM on 09/08/2011

Hunstman is just way to classy. That doesn't win you points with the baggers.

[dhinds]

04:35 PM on 09/08/2011

Although Tbaggers are vociferous, I doubt that they represent a majority of the American Electorate. (If they do, America is real trouble).

[whirlpool]

12:08 PM on 09/08/2011

I worked hard to elect Obama but I would vote for Huntsman. I was raised a Mormon and have no use for the religion, but this would not stop me from voting for him. He is not an ideologue nor an industrial strength dogmatist as some Mormons can be. He has a fine range of experience that would serve him well. A very sensible and cultured man.

[Brad Potter]

02:19 PM on 09/08/2011

I agree, non mormon and a democrat from Utah and I loved him as a governor.

[whirlpool]

02:45 PM on 09/08/2011

There are some very fine and sensible Mormons probably despite their religion instead of because of it but I had a bad experience so I am probably jaundiced in my view. Good to hear that he was a fine governor.

[Quinterius]

03:13 PM on 09/08/2011

I also would vote for Huntsman over Obama. In 2008, I worked for Obama and made numerous calls to other state on his behalf. But, he has been a big disappointment. It seems that he cannot think and he cannot make an independent decision. Huntsman seems to have a head on his shoulders and even said he wants to bring the troops home. Obama's health plan was so flawed that a reasonable alternative would be no worse. Also, Obama's foreign policy is a carbon copy of Bush's. So, Huntsman could not be worse.

[falsy]

11:27 AM on 09/08/2011

I predict he'll be the VP candidate if Perry wins the nomination. It's almost as if he's running for VP. For some reason, the media loves this guy, even though the voters don't. There's something going on here. Huntsman must have some connections that are keeping him alive, and it's those connections that Fineman should be reporting on. Why were Karger and Buddy Romer left off the stage when they poll the same as Huntsman? Why did Huntsman get more face time than Santorum and others polling around 1% at the debate? They media has been trying to sell this guy for months and it's very suspect.

[JustJoy7]

11:03 AM on 09/08/2011

Listening to C-span's Washington Journal this morning, a lot of folk thought Huntsman was is the best candidate, and acknowledged that he is getting a raw deal on getting attention.

IMHO, the media is running the show. The media announces that the race is between Romney and Perry, paying little attention to the others. But what else is new. The media makes and breaks people in order to get ratings.

[josh2082]

10:45 AM on 09/08/2011

There is something seriously flawed going on when analysts may correctly state, as this article does, that a candidate simply "too reasonable" to get nominated. As a Democrat and Obama voter in 2008, it's not that I am so enamored with Obama's performance keeping me in his camp as firmly as I am. It's the possibility of any of the current front-runners being my alternative that makes me wish I could vote twice! Huntsman, give us something viable and reasonable to compare Obama in 2012.

[emeraldcite]

10:36 AM on 09/08/2011

Sadly, he's the only reasonable GOP candidate...but he'll never get Tea Party approval.

[RobinD]

11:29 AM on 09/08/2011

All that science crap and he actually speaks another language. It's way too scary!

[emeraldcite]

10:35 AM on 09/08/2011

That's a nice tie.

[Melmoth]

02:33 AM on 09/09/2011

A well-manicured man. Not creepy, though, like Hatch, Boehner, or Lott.

[Jason Mason]

10:17 AM on 09/08/2011

Ron Paul destroyed all of them.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/07/7658608-who-do-you-think-won-the-republican-debate-at-the-reagan-library

Ron Paul 2012