Saturday Night Live has always put its finger on what makes politicians funny. The show's performers do more than mere impressions of the candidates -- they identify and then expose what makes the politicians unique and quirky. Nobody is spared, Democrat or Republican. Last week at a panel as part of the New York Comedy Festival, Seth Meyers and several other of the show's writers discussed this season's GOP debate sketches, particularly how cast members have embraced their roles as the lesser-known candidates. Meyers singled out Andy Samberg for how he's played Rick Santorum as someone who's just nervous to be there.
For good reason, the writers tend to emphasize the leading candidates in their sketches, with Mitt Romney, Gov. Rick Perry, and Herman Cain taking centerstage lately. Even Rep. Michele Bachmann, who was at one time looking to become a fan-favorite on the show, has been overshadowed by those who have emerged as the new charged candidates. Polling numbers have almost a direct relationship to the amount of face time the candidates' impersonators will get on the weekend's program. Newt Gingrich, who's been surging in the polls of late, was conspicuously absent from last night's show.
Instead, the show opened with a Romney sketch, and only returned to politics during "Weekend Update" when Gov. Jon Huntsman made a real appearance at the desk to talk about his love for New Hampshire, a key election state:
Many bloggers enjoyed Huntsman's light-hearted banter with Meyers, poking fun at himself. If he wants to be the "most appealing GOP presidential candidate to liberals, he's already won," declared The Huffington Post's editors. "[N]ow he's made a self-aware SNL appearance where he proved he had a genuine sense of humor to boot." Mediaite's Sarah Devlin agreed: "Huntsman was a great sport and his delivery was quite good." She only wished it had been longer. And "It became clear as the bit went on," said Ned Colby and Dale W. Eisinger at NBCDFW.com, "it was more impassioned plea than simple gag for the trailing candidate."
It's no secret that Huntsman has been largely passed over during past GOP debates in favor of others. He's had a difficult time establishing himself from the mix; last night, he took a bold step forward to introduce himself to American voters. Huntsman didn't spend any of that time outlining his stances on issues, sharing his background, or hitting his talking points. Instead, he helped Meyers and co. do their jobs. He assisted them in establishing what was funny about him. Don't be surprised to see more of this version of the Huntsman character in future episodes, with Killam incorporating some of these notes into his depiction of the governor. That could keep the conversation about him going much longer than just the day after his surprise appearance on the late-night show.
One SNL appearance is not enough alone to help Huntsman's numbers. But it does have the ability to get people talking. After all, CNN, Politico, CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, and many others wrote about the sketch today. As some GOP candidates are fading, an opportunity is opening up for Huntsman. Romney will continue to lead things off and to dominate the conversation at debates and during sketches afterward. But with so many months left before the primary, and with the race still so wide open, Huntsman is poised to make a move.
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 |
|
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Electoral Votes (270 to win) |
332 | 206 |
| Obama | Romney | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 65,899,660 | 60,932,152 |
| Percent | 51.1% | 47.2% |
| Democrats* | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Senate | 53 | 47 |
| Seats gained or lost | +2 | -2 |
| New Total | 55 | 45 |
| Democrats | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|
| Seats won | 201 | 234 |
Jon Huntsman is the only Republican candidate that's worth any thought, for the simple fact that he's the only candidate in the Republican field who doesn't make the skin crawl.
I've already decided where I'm casting my ballot in 2012, and that's to re-elect President Obama, but Jon Huntsman is the only candidate who could make things interesting.
You look at the full political spectrum and Obama beats the field, with Romney no longer close, with his newfound nuttiness.
You make it a matchup, between Pres. Obama and former Governor Jon Hunstman, and you've got a horserace.
The man's still a conservative, but he's not a loon. Cleaning out the tax code, with open support for eliminating tax deductions to pay for the tax cuts, a deeply isolationist military policy, support for the individual mandate 'concept' and having the government negotiate lower costs for healthcare products/services, advocating an 'energy plus' strategy, with natural gas, wind, solar, carbon capture, and nuclear as his alternatives to oil/coal, support for immigration reform along the lines of the 2006 Senate bill, supports civil unions, expanding diplomacy efforts, etc.
Most folks will look at his record, fully acknowledge that he's a conservative politician, but will go away without the sense that him being President would lead to outright craziness occuring on the national stage.
I still wouldn't trust him on the courts, taxes, abortion rights, and guns, but he's not a nut.
Good one, Huntsman.
Fanned. I fully agree. Huntsman would be the best one out there if Obama were not running for re-election.
To this day, I still don't understand why he had to leave the Ambassador post so early. You serve out the first term, in the name of country, you leave the post at the end of 2012, with four full years of experience, working lead in one our our most important bilateral relationships, and you head into 2013 as a popular former twice elected governor, with 4 years of serious foreign policy experience, and the experience of successfully expanding a family business that actually made stuff and hired people, who explicitly put "country before party" in serving the American public.
President Obama is termed out, VP Joe Biden will be 74, come the next election, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be 69, come the next election.
Huntsman leaves the ambassadorship, after serving his country for 4 years, and he's left with a full 3 year period, to get he story to the country at large, a story, mind you, that'd be a pretty good one.
Successful family man and businessman, extremely popular former governor, and a term of service on the world stage, as U.S. Ambassador to China, where "love of country" trumped any consideration of political objectives. A politician who is substantively willing and able to work with, and develop sound policy through compromise with all stakeholders, Democrats and Republicans. And a politican, fully within himself, who has a clear notion of where he stands on the key issues.
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The fact that he isn't anti-science or that he believes in global warming will alienate the GOP voters because it does not jibe with their roots which apparently obviates education, science and the facts.