“Jon has been an outstanding advocate for this administration and for this country,” Obama said in a statement this morning. “He made a real sacrifice in moving his family out of the state that they loved, and has helped to strengthen our critical relationship with the Chinese government and the Chinese people. And so I am very grateful for his service.”
But Huntsman supporters say they’ll ultimately benefit from Obama’s handling of his outgoing ambassador, heaping praise on him so as to make him unpalatable to GOP primary voters.
“The president is clearly trying to meddle in the GOP primary because he wants to face the weakest possible opponent,” said a strategist who would be involved in a potential Huntsman campaign. “Trying to kill Huntsman with kindness this stage benefits him. It elevates him and plays right into the electability argument. Plus voters are smart enough to see through this type of tactic.”
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