Because of the huge influence that the Tea Party and the more conservative base of the GOP has on the primaries, Republicans are missing their only chance to beat President Barack Obama, and that is former governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman. In hopes to nominate a more conservative presidential candidate, they maybe pass their only opportunity to make Obama a one-term president.
They’ll probably end up with former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney who many of them don’t like, as he comes off as someone who would take up any position to get elected and which shows no real core values. This is all because the more conservative base is so divided on a more conservative candidate, such as former senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum or former House speaker Newt Gingrich.
Jon Huntsman was President Obama’s ambassador to China at the beginning of the president’s term in 2009 and this is what has been a burr beneath many conservative’s saddle. A majority of the Republican base, who will be the ones voting in the primaries mostly, don’t like President Obama and holds it against Huntsman for working under Obama’s administration.
Recently the former governor has had an uptick in his poll numbers in New Hampshire and many political pundits are wondering if he’ll pull one off as Rick Santorum recently did in the Iowa Caucuses. Even if he does manage to do so such as placing a possible third in the primaries, without a great deal of funds to carry him through the rest of the states, his chances are very slim.
One of the reasons Jon Huntsman’s numbers have gone up some in New Hampshire is because of an important endorsement by the Boston Globe in an obvious snub to Mitt Romney. Huntsman is seen as a more down-to-earth presidential candidate than any of the other candidates as far as his position on climate change and science as a whole. This has also been one of the drawbacks he has faced with the conservative base of the GOP.
I do believe that Jon Huntsman could be the ticket to the Independent vote for Republicans, which is the key to the election in 2012. Of course, much is going to depend on how well the economy fairs between now and the election. Though foreign policy isn’t going to be the number one priority on American’s mind come November, certain factors could make a difference in the election, such as what goes on in Iran, Iraq and even North Korea and China.
Though I believe President Obama will win a second term no matter who the GOP chooses as their nominee, there is no better candidate than Jon Huntsman in my opinion, if they wish to even stand a slim chance at winning. Fortunately for us Democrats, his nomination is not likely to happen. Partisan politics rules the day for conservatives these days and it will also ruin their chance at success of taking back the White House come this November.