Whitman: Huntsman could totally go third party
posted at 12:30 pm on December 3, 2011 by Jazz Shaw
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman seems to have picked up a new fan in the person of former New Jersey Governor and EPA chief (under George W. Bush) Christine Todd Whitman. Seeing Whitman jumping in for something (or somebody) outside the conservative mainstream is nothing unusual, and this is no exception. She’s not necessarily pushing for Huntsman to get the GOP nod, but rather for her new, third party initiative.
Former New Jersey Gov. Christie Todd Whitman, who is leading a group to draft a third-party presidential candidate, is encouraging Jon Huntsman to make an independent bid for the White House.
“I would hope he would do it, frankly. He’s someone that I would support,” Whitman said Friday in an interview with POLITICO.
Whitman, a Republican, said a third-party effort by Huntsman is the way to go because she believes it’s unlikely he has much of shot at the GOP nomination. “I don’t see that kind of traction unless he can pull off a surprise in New Hampshire, where independents are allowed to vote,” she said.
Whitman is a board member for Americans Elect, an initiative to get a third party candidate directly selected by independents around the country on the ballot in all fifty states. Obviously getting somebody like Huntsman interested would be a big coup for them. While he’s still not looking like he’s going to get any real traction in the Republican primary, he’s clearly one of the favorite topics of discussion of the media and is regularly pitched as the “less extreme” model who might woo the moderates and independents in the general election. He can also bring some substantial money to bear on the race.
But would he be interested? That Boston Globe article earlier this week created some buzz by saying that Huntsman “wouldn’t rule out” a third party run, but that struck me as being about as convincing as reports earlier this year that Chris Christie was still thinking of running because he had failed to actually commit seppuku on stage. Huntsman has said all along that he was a genuine, conservative Republican and was running as just that. It would be something of a blow to his image if he were to turn around and run a 3rd party spoiler campaign.
Blowback
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Also known as the “Let’s Do Something Stupid That Will Get Obama Elected to a Second Term” Intiative.
Nethicus on December 3, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Why not?
It’s what his boss Obama would want him to do..
TexasJew on December 3, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Huntsman decides to become the election Corvair. Well done, Mr Nader.
Limerick on December 3, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Nethicus nails it.
ted c on December 3, 2011 at 12:37 PM
Whitman has traditionally been a “Not A Democrat” rather than a conservative. It served her in beating the absolutely entrenched corrupt Democratic Party in NJ, but does not add to the national debate.
pat on December 3, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Oh Noes. There goes 0.2% of the vote.
Joe Mama on December 3, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Not so stupid for those proposing it since that is their objective.
Annar on December 3, 2011 at 12:45 PM
His 3P candidacy would make it easier to nominate and elect a conservative Republican, though highly problematic for a Romney. Why Whitman would fire this shot across Romney’s bow is just confusing.
Seth Halpern on December 3, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Interesting.
Cindy Munford on December 3, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Well, anything to avoid actually having to go out and work for a living…
BigWyo on December 3, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Would Huntsman take more votes from Obama or from Gingrich?
SlaveDog on December 3, 2011 at 12:48 PM
It cracks me up that when it comes to 3rd party runs, it’s always the milquetoast middle that huffs and puffs and thinks it is a reasonable move. Maybe they should call themselves the “Rodney King Party”.
I wouldn’t worry that a movement (if you want to call it that) will tilt the race to Obama, it’s apt to take as many votes away from him as the Republican. This is another “No-Labels”, “Coffee Party” fizzle.
cartooner on December 3, 2011 at 12:49 PM
oh, and this:
Biff Huntsman/Liza Whitman Todd Melkrunchy 2012!!!!
BigWyo on December 3, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Depends. I’m not sure of Ken and Barbie’s political affiliation.
Limerick on December 3, 2011 at 12:51 PM
Useful idiots
jnelchef on December 3, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Erick Erickson hardest hit.
swamp_yankee on December 3, 2011 at 12:54 PM
Yeah, a 3rd party really has a chance. In Fantasyland.
GarandFan on December 3, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Yeah, because there’s such a groundswell of support for Huntsman from Republicans that he just has to satisfy the demand. He’d be taking votes from Obama. That’s why the Obama campaign did their best to poison him early on by praising him.
obladioblada on December 3, 2011 at 12:59 PM
All this hyperventilation we had about a third-party run by Palin, when the real threat of a third-party run all along was likely to come from a so-called moderate.
It might not be Huntsman, but Trump and Bloomberg are still real possibilities.
didymus on December 3, 2011 at 1:01 PM
No risk…might happen, won’t win…no price to pay. Perfect RINO move…don’t stick your neck out!
winston on December 3, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Huntsman will take his
armyregimentbattaliongirl scout troop of supporters elsewhere.Cicero43 on December 3, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Why do you think Huntsman is outside the conservative mainstream? He is more conservative than either Newt or Mitt.
lexhamfox on December 3, 2011 at 1:03 PM
That twitball really misunderestimates our Romney/Gingrich hatred.
Laura in Maryland on December 3, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Ernesto Huntsman …!
Seven Percent Solution on December 3, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Will anyone even notice?
I hear that Rick Santorum may do the same.
molonlabe28 on December 3, 2011 at 1:09 PM
He worked for Obama so I wouldn’t trust him any farther than I could throw Chris Christie
darwin-t on December 3, 2011 at 1:10 PM
He’s still employed by Clownbama….
jeglinas on December 3, 2011 at 1:12 PM
The Democrats absolutely need for there to be a third party candidate to siphon off Republican votes in order to get Obama reelected. Goldman Sachs will be working very hard stroking the egos of potential candidates. It is vital to them that Obama be reelected in order to keep the bailout cash flowing both here and around the world.
crosspatch on December 3, 2011 at 1:12 PM
A vote for Huntsman is a vote FOR Obama… No thanks..
Newt on his worst day is a BAZILLION percent better than Permanent Vacation POTUS on his “best”…
Khun Joe on December 3, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Any “Republican” who attempts to run as a third party candidate should be taken out behind the barn and shot.
***Warning: I am using this term as a figure of speech. Please, no one should do such a thing.
SC.Charlie on December 3, 2011 at 1:13 PM
It would hurt 0bama far more than the GOP nominee.
Which is why it’ll never happen.
Rebar on December 3, 2011 at 1:15 PM
RINO love…it’s making me mad, it’s making me crazy….
Biff doesn’t have a chance, third party, fourth party…he would be a GREAT democratic candidate, though.
HornetSting on December 3, 2011 at 1:19 PM
John Anderson ran as a third-party candidate in 1980. Didn’t matter.
Akzed on December 3, 2011 at 1:28 PM
HEY! Don’t go hatin’ on the girl scouts. My little Daisy Scout will mess you up, sucka!
;)
Laura in Maryland on December 3, 2011 at 1:30 PM
He might take a lot of votes…
From Obama.
Mr. Joe on December 3, 2011 at 1:32 PM
I do not know any Republicans (let alone conservatives) who like Huntsman.
Mr. Joe on December 3, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Huntsman would take sufficient votes to swing the election to the Democrats and he knows it. Kind of shows you where his loyalty is.
rplat on December 3, 2011 at 1:39 PM
With all the vicious rage and hate being thrown at Newt by fellow conservatives, this can’t surprise anyone.
mike_NC9 on December 3, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Oh, boy! His third party status can include the RINOS and some Dems that wonder what the heck happened to their party. The Obama Dems are going down and the Republican Party needs to be re-structured so that Conservatives don’t have to start the third party. The Jim Huntsmans of the world won’t be embarrassed to be Republicans anymore. I’m starting to like his thinking.
BetseyRoss on December 3, 2011 at 1:54 PM
She is nuts!
There was a letter to the editor in the paper yesterday. I don’t have the author’s permission to include his name, so here is the content:
Emphasis mine.
Romney will never run as an independent. The dems are only hoping that will happen.
But people, you need to know who you are putting in the oval office and it doesn’t sound as if newt is in any way consistent in what he does.
Bambi on December 3, 2011 at 2:01 PM
Apparently Whitman doesn’t think she did enough harm to the nation already, so she’s still at it.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Whitmann can have a cocktail party with Frum and they can cry about Huntsman.
Mr. Joe on December 3, 2011 at 2:04 PM
DITTO.
I’m not suggesting anyone not vote GOP should Gingrich be the nominee. But it’d be great if more people on the Right could at least open their eyes about what is what and who is who. All the clamboring for idealogues as to “conservative” and here Gingrich is near the nomination. He’s not Conservative and he really should be held to task for even claiming he is.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:06 PM
ON THE ISSUES, Huntsman is more Conservative than Gingrich and Romney, with Gingrich way off into Progressive.
So Gingrich is closer aligned with the Left (“Dems” you refer to) than Huntsman.
I don’t find Huntsman highly attractive as a possible nominee and I don’t think he should run Third Party, BUT, he’s not a Liberal, anything but.
I just wish more folks would drop the idol-attractions to certain figures and look at actual issues associated with individual candidates. Most who are hyped today on the Right as being the “in” candidates or idolized as such are Progressive, not Conservative. Huntsman, on the contrary, actually has a Conservative record on the issues.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Reading HA comments is fun, because it’s fun to read the self assured opinions of legions of arm chair political experts, who don’t know flip about what they’re opining about.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:14 PM
“Vicious rage and hate being thrown at Newt”?
Specifics there?
Would that be, like, identifying him as not a Conservative because he isn’t a Conservative?
I don’t care for his misleading use and claims to the label. He’s wrong to mislead people like he is and it calls to question his motives.
Otherwise, he’s interesting to listen to, I’m happy he’s found peace and happiness in his personal and religious life and I wish him the best.
But as a voter, I’d prefer Gingrich come clean about who he is and why he maintains Progressive goals as he does and why he insists that makes him “more Conservative”. It sure sounds like another political con game to me.
But claiming criticism of him represents “vicious rage and hate” is really over the top.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:14 PM
@Lourdes, I’ve been trying for weeks to get the boneheaded red meaters here at HA to stop dumping on Huntsman, just as I tried on behalf of TPAW. But the eat their own mentality here is just too ingrained in their heads. No amount of factual evidence that shows Huntsman to be far more conservative than the top field candidates.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:15 PM
The only vicious rage here is towards Huntsman.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:17 PM
Yes, agreed.
DITTO.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:18 PM
And I will say (again), that I was once eager to pick on Huntsman, but I’ve had the chance to see him speak on several occasions here in NH, and he’s a good man, with a great record, and plenty of conservative bona fides. I don’t mind people not voting for him, or even questioning his ability to win the general, but the vitriol and the bile dumped on this man here at HA is disgusting, and it has really lowered the value of this community’s opinions in my eyes.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:21 PM
Huntsman: Ambassador to China from the U.S.
I wouldn’t call that “working for Obama” to such an extent that someone (Huntsman, in this instance) should be dismissed by claiming he ‘worked for Obama’ [and, therefore, he's enemy-encamped is the implication]).
A position as Ambassador to China would lend very, very handy work experience to the Oval Office. I haven’t heard or read that Huntsman has botched the job, either.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Once again, DITTO (with the exception of me not having heard Huntsman speak in New Hampshire as you have, but I’ve heard a few other of his speeches and they’ve been impressive).
We share nearly identical perspectives, as you express there.
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:24 PM
I personally asked Huntsman about having worked for Obama and his answer made sense. The Ambassador to China is not a very politically tainted position, it’s of immense importance, and he took the job feeling he had the best to offer for it and wanted to serve his country. When you look at his past as a diplomat to other Asian countries, it makes sense. I’m sorry, but it’s not like we’re talking about Holder here. Huntsman as far as I know is scandal free, and a pretty principled man.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:25 PM
Huntsman = Nader with out all the name recognition.
esnap on December 3, 2011 at 2:31 PM
esnap = moron who provides no evidence to back up his statements, and does so in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Who do you work for esnap?
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:42 PM
A Gingrich nomination increases the odds of a third party run exponentially. Huntsman, Ron Paul, etc may all go third party.
Ron Paul is the one to worry about.
haner on December 3, 2011 at 2:46 PM
You may not agree with me and I might not agree with you but I will not attack any one here that I don’t agree with.
Are you making the assertion that Huntsman has more name recognition than Nader?
And wouldn’t Huntsman running have similar effect to the GOP as Nader has had to the dems?
esnap on December 3, 2011 at 2:55 PM
And wouldn’t Huntsman running as a third party have similar effect to the GOP as Nader has had to the dems?
esnap on December 3, 2011 at 2:58 PM
esnap, when you equate Huntsman with Nader, without any further clarification, who can be blamed for thinking you are equating their political views. If you’re saying that Huntsman is as popular as Nader, well that is an opinion that I wouldn’t agree with, but probably would have not bothered to respond to.
As for attacking anyone here, you don’t appear to be engaging in an intellectually honest debate by slandering Governor Huntsman and equating him with a man like Ralph Nader, and at this point are worthy of that level of derision. If you’d care to clarify your point, I’m willing to retract my judgement of your intelligence and your motives.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 2:59 PM
esnap, I support Huntsman as the GOP candidate, but I would not support him as a 3rd party candidate, period.
SuperBunny on December 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM
His image? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
mockmook on December 3, 2011 at 3:19 PM
If former NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman married current NJ Gov. Chris Christie her name would be……..?
Ms. Whitman, your not half the Gov. of Gov. Christie.
:-)
diogenes on December 3, 2011 at 3:22 PM
Great! Make sure he takes the liberal Republicans with him, though Romney’s liberal supporters probably will stay. Maybe Huntsman has 3 supporters if his wife and kids are not included. Romney belongs in a third party as well…why does the GOP even allow such liberals to run?!
Karmi on December 3, 2011 at 3:24 PM
I’m reserving judgment until one, two, or all three of Jon Hunstman’s hottie daughters stops doing asinine slap-fight video’s for him and does a full spread in Playboy… preferably with a Huntsman 2012 tramp stamp. Heck, just slap a bumpersticker on dat a$$. Either way.
FlatFoot on December 3, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Yeah, Huntsman’s a real keeper. We love people who insult our intelligence and try to tear down the party who’s nomination they are running for.
mockmook on December 3, 2011 at 3:30 PM
If it happens, it just confirms what I’ve been saying about Huntsman from the beginning: The Dems are going to try to play the same game nationally that they used (effectively) in the Mass. Gubernatorial race in 2010.
Obama’s the underwater Dem incumbent Duval Patrick, The GOP PoTUS nom is 2010 Mass. Gubernatorial nom Charlie Baker and Hunstman is the “independent (who just so happened to have worked FOR the Dem incumbent)” third party straw that sucks away juuuust enough votes from the GOP nom to keep the Dem in office.
Curse of The GOP: Too many Democrats in it.
SuperCool on December 3, 2011 at 3:39 PM
What do these people all have in common
Van Jones
Valerie Jarrett
Eric Holder
Jon Huntsman
Answer: they all worked for Obama.
Anyone proposing that Huntsman is anywhere near a conservative is either stupid, naive or has no idea what being conservative means.
angryed on December 3, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Then ho back to Kos, HuffPo and David Frum’s blog where you will be a lot less offended.
angryed on December 3, 2011 at 4:19 PM
Lourdes on December 3, 2011 at 2:22 PM
Have you read the glowing letter he wrote to obama to get the job?
Have we heard anything about the job he did in China?
He was elected as gov because of the great name and reputation of his dad. He could never be elected again. (I know, says me and a lot of other conservatives).
He dropped out of high school, he dropped out of being Utah gov, he dropped out of being ambassador. So let’s really look at all of his record. He talks about the wonderful health care and low state taxes in Utah. Sorry, I haven’t seen either. His other jobs in other republican administrations were because of the contributions of his father. His dad is a great man. Let’s elect him!
He hates Romney because the Olympics passed over little jon and asked Romney. Does this vendetta sound normal?
Bambi on December 3, 2011 at 4:25 PM
If I were Newt, I would consider Huntsman as a potential VP because you can spin it both ways: conservative republican governor of Utah, Obama administration ambassador who quit that sinking ship. Only problem is, he has no base like Paul.
Greek Fire on December 3, 2011 at 5:06 PM
Both BigGovernment has aired the theory that Huntsman is Obama’s secret weapon against the GOP; National Journal has gamed this out.
If this ends up happening, I can’t really put away the feeling that Huntsman’s been running a charade the entire time on behalf of Obama – his most recent employer.
Seixon on December 3, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Who?
MassVictim on December 3, 2011 at 5:35 PM
I keep hearing of Huntsman’s “substantial money” but haven’t seen him waste any substantial amounts on his campaign yet.
Huntsman isn’t the sort of third party candidate who could draw any support, but of course it doesn’t take much to turn a close election. Ralph Nader’s Florida vote was only 2% in 2000, but if he hadn’t run and even a quarter of them had voted Democratic instead, we’d have had President Gore.
Don’t be stupid and help Obama. There’s a reason Whitman is mostly a forgotten figure.
Adjoran on December 3, 2011 at 5:36 PM
Third party. Yeah, that always works out well. Is Christine Whitman retarded? No seriously. I would like to no if she is mentally retarded.
WarEagle01 on December 3, 2011 at 5:36 PM
That’s all I am saying.
If Paul goes 3rd party it would give Obamugabe a boost however Huntsman would not sting nearly as bad.
I’ll take any of the candidates over Obama any day.
But, regardless who wins, unless there is a wholesale change in how taxation, regulation and in the size of gub’ment it won’t matter.
We are so near collapse, in fact I think we already collapses 2 years ago. It is only accounting tricks that make it seem like we are still afloat.
esnap on December 3, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Yes.
The real question: is Jazz mocking Whitman by presenting her idiotic and meaningless opinions here, or is he somehow so disconnected from reality that he imagines a Christine Whitman opinion to be relevant?
I say he’s mocking her and I’m all for it, despite her apparent retardation.
Jaibones on December 3, 2011 at 10:22 PM
Hey! That offends people who advocate for the retarded!
esnap on December 3, 2011 at 10:36 PM