Buzzsmart says there is some reason to believe that former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is mulling over running for president in 2016 as an independent. Huntsman, for a few weeks in late 2011, had made up his mind to seek the Americans Elect nomination for president in 2012, but then he changed his mind. See this story (scroll down).
Personally, I don’t think he’ll run. He’s a pragamatic person and knows that an Independent to be taken serious will have to have at least 1 billion of campaign dough. And as a Republican also-ran, he is going to hurt the Republicans more than the Democrats. Which means that Hillary will have a easy ride to the White House. The GOP king-makers will do their best to talk him out of it.
As an Independent, would love to see an Independent elected to the White House before the Lord calls me Home. But it would take just the right kind of candidate – probably a socially liberal and economic conservative – to draw some strong Democratic support that any Independent is going to need.
Not saying I would support or vote for such an Independent. But just would like to witness the accomplishment of something that most people says will never happen.
Ross Perot probably could have accomplished it in 1992, but he wouldn’t listen to his political advisers. Dropped out of the race, then got back in, and without a strong vice-presidential ticket mate, many former supporters had lost faith in ole Ross.
Still, he got some 20% of the popular vote. Just think what he could have accomplished had he listened to those who know more about elections than the candidate- his advisors.
Maybe some day!
I can already hear the cheering from the GOP Headquarter.
I agree with AI. I think he’ll likely run in the GOP primary in 16′ instead.
Huntsman won’t run for GOP in 16! He’ll look like a fish out of water again…he is not a tea partying, social firebomb throwing, fiscal hypocrite like the average super-active GOP primary voter.
Huntsman is a pragmatic idealist. Those common-sensical folks don’t get traction in the GOP.
He absolutely won’t run in the GOP primaries, he’s said too many things since 2012 for that to even be an option.
Also, remember that his family is extremely wealthy, so this wouldn’t be some kind of shoestring operation if he did run.
FYI Brad, the Tea Party’s influence in the GOP is in the decline- look at what happened in the primaries this year.
Cody,
Tea Partiers have not gone away.
Come a presidential election year they will emerge from their holes in the ground like 4 year cicadas to make a ridiculous din of noise for the entire primary season that will have even moderate GOP presidential candidates saying stupid things to kowtow to the crazy primary voters.
Not sure I understand the Tea Partiers philosophically. Aren’t they a sort of “Constitution Party lite?”
Cody, Brad, you two sound like Eric Cantor the day before the Virginia primary.
Michael, ?!