The Moderate

[NHI]

The Moderate:

Huntsman waving to supporters after securing the republican nomination for President.

Coming Soon...

[NHI]

The Republican Field found itself in disarray. Mitt Romney and Rick Perry found themselves tearing each other apart, as they both vied for the GOP's nomination. With Michele Bachmann deemed irrelevant her campaign limped into Iowa, while the rest of the field seemed to be disappearing into obscurity.

Despite Romney and Perry seeming to suck up all the energy in the field, Huntsman proved to be the exception to the rule. Having decided to skip Iowa entirely Huntsman focused his energy on New Hampshire where he looked to pull a second place finish, and possibly a first place


Huntsman campaigning in New Hampshire the night of the Iowa Caucuses. "We're going to win this nomination, and I firmly believe that because I know our campaign is right on the issues. I'm a center right candidate and America is a center right country."

Iowa Caucuses:

Perry: 29%
Romney: 19%
Bachmann: 18%
Paul: 15%
Cain: 10%
Other: 9%

New Hampshire Primary: (Pre-Iowa Polling)
Romney: 29%
Perry: 28%
Huntsman: 14%
Paul: 11%
Bachmann: 11%
Other: 7%

New Hampshire Primary: (Post-Iowa Polling)
Perry: 26%
Romney: 26%
Huntsman: 15%
Paul: 13%
Bachmann: 11%
Other: 9%

With Iowa now in the rearview the candidates headed to New Hampshire for what was seen as a make or break for Mitt Romney who found himself all but mortally wounded politically after the Iowa results. In a single debate, five days before the primary the race seemed to be thrown into disarray. Earlier in the day Michele Bachmann ended her campaign, which came as a shock.

In the debate Jon Huntsman seemed to draw a line which separated him fro the other candidates.

"We need to take our conservative message and show it to America. But it must be done with clarity and sincerely. We have an election to win, I can win this election, by drawing a clear contrast with Pres. Obama. I speak not just for the republicans, but for middle. This is a center right country and we as republicans cannot forget that."

Perry responded to Huntsman and seemed to antagonize him.


"I have to wonder Jon, if you're running in wrong primary, I think we've got to be bold and abrasive in this campaign."


"Governor, we can agree that we need bold ideas, but what we don't need is wrong ideas and the wrong people. Call me crazy, but I think the majority of Americans want social security left alone. I think the majority of Americans want seriousness, not razzle dazzle showmanship. The American people want a problem solver, I'm a problem solver. You're a pretend problem solver."

...

[Simfan34]

Go on! Anything with Jon Huntsman winning is great in my book.

[NHI]

 

The day before the New Hampshire primary Huntsman crisscrossed his way across the state, hoping to turnout a surprise upset in the primary, but most pundits continued to write him off.


Matthews: Jon Huntsman, he's a nice guy, but's not going to win this thing. The GOP has drive out the moderates. Romney is clinging to life, it is people like Perry or burst!

Romney made his campaign around the state, but the common thought was that Perry would probably eclipse him.


The latest tracking poll showed Perry ahead, narrowly over Romney.
NH:
Perry: 26%
Romney: 25%

However the people of New Hampshire threw a curveball and gave Jon Huntsman an upset victory over both Romney and Perry. The win was seen as major game changer and the beginning of a new phase of the campaign.

NH:
Huntsman: 35.9%
Romney: 34.3%
Perry: 17.1%
Paul:  6.6%
Other: 6.1%

Who do you support for the Republican Nomination? (Pre-New Hampshire)
Perry: 27%
Romney: 24%

Who do you support for the Republican Nomination? (Post-New Hampshire)
Huntsman: 30%
Perry: 19%
Romney: 19%

Obama vs. Huntsman:
Obama 47%
Huntsman 47%

Obama vs. Romney:
Obama 50%
Romney 44%

Obama vs. Perry:
Obama 51%
Perry 42%


Primary and Caucus Results thus far:
Romney: Wyoming
Perry: Iowa
Huntsman: New Hampshire

Delegate Count:
Perry 35
Huntsman 30
Romney 28

Romney staked his claim in Michigan and managed to pull out a win over his two opponents, but his margin of victory was less stellar.

29.9%     28.7%  30.1%

Huntsman would go onto win Nevada, while South Carolina would go for Perry.

Perry 89
Romney 84
Huntsman 72

Perry would take Louisiana and Huntsman taking Maine narrowly from Romney.
Perry 143
Huntsman 95
Romney 84

Perry and Huntsman competed heavily for Florida, and it ultimately went for the former governor, with Romney coming in third.

Huntsman 230
Perry 143
Romney 84

Romney decided to hang on until Super Tuesday, but most expected it to be the end of his campaign. The Race would be between Huntsman and Perry, but Perry would prove gaffe prone and found himself in hot water over an off the cuff remark he made about secession. "We're in trouble American and hey, if Obama win this thing Texas better think long and hard about secession again."

Huntsman pounced on the comment and Perry found himself politically wounded by the gaffe, thus ending his campaign.

[GLPman]

Great so far, very interested in seeing where its gonna go.

[NHI]

Following the Super Tuesday contests Jon Huntsman was able to claim victory, with both Perry and Romney conceding their campaign, but only Romney offered an endorsement of Huntsman. When asked by a reporter on his way off the podium he simply waved.


Huntsman vs. Obama:
Obama 48%
Huntsman 47%

With Huntsman now the presumptive nominee many on the right began to fret, even calling for Romney and Perry to fight to the convention. Rush Limbaugh offered his commentary on the Huntsman nomination,


"This guy is a media darling. He's not a true conservative, when the media begins praising you, we've got a problem as conservatives. I mean he makes Romney look like Jack Kemp. Frankly, I would rather have Romney, I'd rather have McCain, anyone but this guy."

The Huntsman campaign attempted to shield itself from the onslaught of criticism from members of the far right. Perry did eventually offer his endorsement, sort of. In a word sentence he stated, "We will defeat President Obama in November."

Speculation then began to arise regarding Huntsman's pick for Vice President. Most pundits assumed it would come down to four choices:

1. Rick Perry
2. Marco Rubio
3. Alan West
4. Chris Christie

When questioned the Huntsman campaign offered no statement except to say, "We will have a pick by summer."


Meanwhile some Tea Party Republicans began to wonder if a Tea Party candidate should either challenge Huntsman in the convention, or run as a third party.

Should a Tea Party Candidate run as a Third Party?
Yes: 45%
No: 47%
Undecided: 8%

Is Jon Huntsman Conservative Enough?
Yes: 45%
No:  50%

Possible Three way Matchup:
Obama 45%
Huntsman 37%
Third Party16%

[NHI]

In late June to a large crowd in New Hampshire, Jon Huntsman managed to calm some GOP concern of his candidacy, with his pick of Marco Rubio as his running mate. The Tea Party and Republican darling was seen as a wise pick by Huntsman and partly a surprise, given that Rubio had repeatedly denied his intention to run for the Vice Presidency.

"Our country is in trouble. America needs guidance, America needs leadership. America needs Jon Huntsman and I am honored and willing to serve with him come January of 2013."

The Rubio pick calmed Republican nerves over Huntsman and put a major wrench in the Obama campaign. With more states falling into the undecided column the President realized he needed a game changer.

Obama vs. Huntsman:
Huntsman 50%
Obama 44%

Projected Map:

Obama228
Huntsman218
Tossup92

With the economy stalled and unemployment still dangerously high for an incumbent Obama began a shakeup, unseen in modern political history. As the Republicans headed for their convention in Florida, Obama readied for the biggest political twist in modern American history.

The night Jon Huntsman he set to establish himself as a different kind of a republican. Instead of directly attacking Obama's character or personality, he mentioned his policies and never mentioned the president by name.


"...I do not seek this office for the reasons of political fame or opportunity, though opportunity has put me here tonight. I seek this office because I love our country. I love it and want to see that it's best and brightest days lie ahead. Ronald Reagan spoke of our party as having bold colors, no pale pastels. Tonight let us be reminded of who we are, and let us paint with bold colors from here to November. Thank you and God Bless these United States."

As the Republican convention concluded the White House leaked a report that Vice President Joe Biden would be stepping down at the end of Obama's term in January. This prompted enormous speculation and media intensity, and Huntsman's campaign was eclipsed coming out of the convention.

To large crowd of supporter Pres. Obama announced the decision that some on his staff thought was political suicide. He announced a new pick for Vice President spot on the ticket.....


















Hillary Rodham Clinton.