New target for Democrats: Jon Huntsman

As a “billionaire” who has spent the last two years in China, Harpootlian said, Huntsman “has little or no concept of how the average American lives.”

“I think that he’s not in touch with the average American,” Harpootlian said. “He hasn’t been there to feel their pain, and he’s been hanging around with Communist Chinese leadership for the last couple years.”…

Party operatives have already taken note of his newfound opposition to a cap-and-trade system to curtail climate change, which he supported as governor of Utah. And they are watching closely to see if he shifts his stance on gay rights after backing civil unions for same-sex couples.

“We’re curious to see which Huntsman shows up — one that supports gay rights, cap-and-trade and national health reform, or one that will change these positions to pander to Republican primary voters,” said a Democratic official granted anonymity to preview the party’s message on Huntsman. “Is he going to be the standard-bearer for the progressive wing of the Republican Party, or is he going to be Mitt Romney-lite?”