Jon Huntsman: Stephen Colbert, Will You Be My Running Mate? (VIDEO)

Former Utah governor and Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" Monday night and asked host Stephen Colbert -- in Mandarin -- to be his running mate.

Colbert took the request in stride, saying that it raised concerns because the fact that he has a SuperPAC prohibits him from "coordinating" with any presidential candidate.

Huntsman also discussed his time as Obama's ambassador to China and explained that his service to a Democratic administration shouldn't raise any questions about his conservative credentials.

"When your president asks you to stand up and serve, particularly during a time of war and economic hardship, you do as told," Huntsman said.

Colbert then asked if he was implying that the United States was "at war with China."

"Based on this interview, we could end up here," Huntsman replied.

Huntsman was also pressed on the issue of Mormonism, a faith he shares with rival presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Huntsman said it was generally a bad idea to discuss religion during elections, but that Mormonism was becoming more mainstream, and that attempts to paint the religion as "a cult" were disheartening signs of a divided America.

At the end of the interview, Colbert promised to give Huntsman his patented "Colbert bump," which he said would raise the candidate's anemic performance in primary polling.

"You may be at two percent -- we're gonna get you up to whole milk," Colbert said.

Watch the entire interview above.

Comments

[KatchProFILMS]

04:53 PM on 10/27/2011

Mr. Colbert, indeed, has a "chemical company"... it is called, Prescott.

[proudtohaveserved]

10:41 AM on 10/26/2011

i stopped watching colbert when on tv he said he was a neo-con catholic. that did it for me.

[Michael D Ballantine]

02:43 AM on 10/26/2011

A good man that is getting ignored by the media and the Republican party because, he is a "moderate." Whereas, I don't agree with his economics, at least they are reasonable as opposed to outrageous. I hope Steve is right but I think the crazies have it. Should I ask Jon to be my running mate?

[staylor422]

08:21 PM on 10/25/2011

Hey Huntsman you got that thing! Hope it works for ya! Good Luck you got my vote.

[JoeAnomie]

08:15 PM on 10/25/2011

Huntsman made some brave legal changes in Utah that every other Republican Governor was afraid to do and he succeeded. It earned him respect from a lot of the Democrats. He is not liked by the Tea Party fanatics because he is too reasonable. By not pandering ridiculous ideas to the birther crowd he isn't getting much attention. Thats too bad for the GOP because I believe he is the only candidate who could beat Obama.

[election2012]

07:05 PM on 10/25/2011

Huntsman's keeping in the race to increase name recognition, and will then wait for his turn in the next election. Or, he may cash out and run for Governor, Senator in a red state if he cannot raise enough funds for a Presidential bid in 2016.

[Lilliputian]

06:39 PM on 10/25/2011

Too bad Huntsman is not being taken seriously as a Republican candidate... maybe its because he understands duty to country over politics and actually respects the office of the Presidency... enough so he accepted the Ambassadorship to China... not in any way a slouch position either!!

Have to be pretty skilled on many levels to represent the US to the Chinese government.

Guess this means he is too intelligent for the extreme GOP.

[JoeAnomie]

08:06 PM on 10/25/2011

Exactly. He is too normal for the right.

[Seattlewkr]

08:39 PM on 10/25/2011

Maybe if he got out of people bedrooms and starting working on what is "everybody's business," more people would be supportive of him.

[bkelly boulderit]

08:58 PM on 10/25/2011

Ouch!

[wgdisk]

06:36 PM on 10/25/2011

If republicans want to pick off some democrat votes and independent votes they would nominate Huntsman but they are to stupid to nominate someone with a brain.

[Bitternut]

06:28 PM on 10/25/2011

As a former Obama supporter, I would probably vote for Huntsman over Obama if Huntsman were to win the republican nomination, but he won't. Republican party does not want an intelligent person concerned about the USA succeeding.

[justsomeguywhocameby]

06:21 PM on 10/25/2011

This is a waste of time.

[NewLiberals]

06:18 PM on 10/25/2011

Run Steven Run!

[benandpogo]

06:14 PM on 10/25/2011

Another clueless republican. Just looks at the surface with no true understanding. He probably actually thinks that Stephen Colbert is a conservative! Irony is a bit too nuanced and advanced for these people. Remember when the conservatives invited him to their White House correspondents dinner? They were horrified, but I guess they can't remember that far back.

[justsomeguywhocameby]

06:20 PM on 10/25/2011

I remember.
Colbert told all of them, straight up to their faces, how much the svcked.

[seanrm92]

06:09 PM on 10/25/2011

Here's my prediction:
>Obama wins 2012
>Tea Party dies down
>Huntsman wins 2016

Huntsman is a moderate while the rest of the GOP has been overrun by the Tea Party. He just doesn't have a chance. It's a shame, too, because right now he's the only Republican candidate I would actually vote for.

[factsworkbest]

05:59 PM on 10/25/2011

I'm from Maine, and Sec. of Defense William Cohen took a beating here when he agreed to work for Pres. Clinton. The reason he gave for working for a Democrat? "When the President asks you to serve, you serve." Men and women like that are rare, and the Republicans are squandering a chance to elect one.

[NoWayMan]

05:59 PM on 10/25/2011

huntsman seems likable and sane...when you compare him to the rest of clowns the GOP is trying to sell us.

but if you read up on his tax proposals, he's straight GOP like the rest of them, ready to help the rich and screw the middle class, including a tax break for the rich that would be paid for by the elderly and vets. thanks but no thanks.

[jaggdd]

02:20 PM on 10/26/2011

Hopefully he puts his policy where his mouth is currently. Look up his column in the Wall Street Journal, "Too Big to Fail is Simply Too Big'. It's a pro-small business, pro manufacturing, pro-big-bank-breakup argument. That last one's important. Not through forced legal action, but rather by eliminating the backdoor subsidies and enabling loopholes that encouraged the super mergers and giant monsters that exist today. He argues that with those gone, it would be in the banks' best economic interest to divide up their businesses. You think Obama's administration would be so bold?

He's not hip. He's maybe a little boring. But he values education and believes we should invest in it as a top priority. That's what I hope is being sold to us in 2012.