“Despite the fact that Huntsman’s still virtually unknown, the president and his advisors have enough political sense to recognize that he would be the most formidable opponent in the general election,” said a strategist likely to be involved in a Huntsman campaign. “The only reason they are meddling in the GOP primary at this early stage is because they know Huntsman can win.”…

“He’s a perfect candidate for New Hampshire,” said Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. “He’s got credibility, foreign policy experience, governing experience, finances, and he’s already started to gather a grassroots organization.”…

If he does decide to run, strategists anticipate that Huntsman will downplay the Iowa caucuses and go all-in on New Hampshire – a strategy McCain successfully employed on his way to becoming the Republican nominee in 2008.