U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman another GOP 2012 POTUS candidate ?

[Exotix]

A White House aide confirms to First Read that U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman -- the former governor of Utah -- has sent a letter to President Obama, informing him that he will resign his post.


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First Read - Huntsman offers his resignation


It is now widely expected that Huntsman, a Republican, will consider running for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Politico reports that Huntsman says in the letter he wants to return to the United States by May. More from Politico: "The letter thanks Obama for the opportunity to serve the country and praises the U.S. embassy staff in Beijing."





The U.S. ambassador to China, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, said he would leave his Beijing post at the end of April, adding to speculation that he will make a run for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

U.S. Ambassador to China Plans Exit - WSJ.com

A senior White House official said Mr. Huntsman had submitted a letter of resignation Monday and plans to leave by April 30.
He was in Washington on Monday to attend a State Department gathering of U.S. envoys from around the world.



Mr. Huntsman, 50 years old, has declined to comment on his political aspirations.

But a group of prominent Republicans has begun to assemble a campaign operation should he decide to run.

"There is a growing group of admirers who hope he runs for president in the short term, but we won't know that until he returns" to the U.S., said John Weaver, a Huntsman adviser who served as a top strategist for Sen. John McCain's presidential bid in 2008.

"In the meantime, we are reaching out to activists, operatives and donors to see who might be willing to help, should he run."



Mr. Huntsman's foreign-policy credentials would set him apart in a 2012 GOP field that could otherwise lack any candidate with significant experience overseas.

The son of a billionaire chemical magnate, Mr. Huntsman also has served as ambassador to Singapore, under President George H.W. Bush, and as deputy U.S. trade representative, under President George W. Bush.

He speaks fluent Mandarin.

The possibility of a Huntsman candidacy has already caused both awkwardness and mirth within the Obama administration.

In response to a reporter's question about Mr. Huntsman's presidential prospects during the visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Barack Obama joked about having a potential rival in his administration, saying the fact that Mr. Huntsman "worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary."

Mr. Huntsman has supported same-sex civil unions as well as cap-and-trade legislation, both of which are now anathema in conservative circles.

A Huntsman candidacy would immediately complicate life for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another moderate, wealthy, telegenic Mormon. Mr. Romney has been preparing for a second shot at the GOP nomination since his 2008 bid fell short.

Both men would be banking on support in the same early primary states of New Hampshire, Nevada and Michigan.

Mr. Huntsman won high marks for his overhaul of Utah's health-care system during his two terms as the state's governor, which ended in 2009. Ironically, White House officials said at the time that one reason Mr. Obama sought out Mr. Huntsman to serve as his envoy to China was to marginalize him as a potential rival in 2012.



Jon Huntsman, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.



Video inside ~ Charlie Rose - Jon Huntsman, US Ambassador to China