GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman gave a jubilant victory speech last night after the New Hampshire primary returns were announced. The problem is, Huntsman didn't win - he came in a distant third.
The former Utah governor and ambassador to China told his supporters that his third place finish was a "ticket to ride", saying his campaign will continue to South Carolina. For a candidate who skipped the Iowa caucus and dumped all of his resources into the Granite State, garnering only 17% of the vote does not bode well for the campaign trains destination.
Any perceived success of Huntsman in New Hampshire is blunted by the fact that he hasn't been vetted: nationally Huntsman's support remains below a dismal 3% percent and no one perceives him as a threat. Other candidates have surged in the polls, then fallen after having their past scrutinized. To help Huntsman savor his "victory" in New Hampshire, we'll give the moderate Republican a brief vetting.
Huntsman likes to don a flannel shirt and jeans on the campaign trail to appeal to the masses, however, his folksy wardrobe does not obfuscate the fact that his privileged life as the son of a billionaire opened many doors leading to his success.
Huntsman's biography reads more like the tale of a spoiled rich kid rather than the pedigree of a United States president. As a teen, Huntsman dropped out of high school to pursue his rock band career. When that didn't pan out, he eventually got his GED and then obtained a BA in International Politics from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from college, Huntsman snagged several prime appointments in the Reagan and Bush Administrations - something cynics might argue had more to do with his father's success and money than Jon Jr's academic performance. Jon Huntsman, Sr, is a self-made chemical company titan who is highly regarded for his business acumen, integrity, work ethic and philanthropy. According to Jon Jr's campaign website, his only private sector experience was working for his father's companies (does nepotism come to mind?)
Huntsman, who is used to getting what he wants as a result of the birth lottery, is finding that voters aren't overly impressed with a guy who has built his career on his father's accomplishments. Perhaps it's time that Huntsman pursues his rock band ambitions and leaves the presidential race to the big boys.
The former Utah governor and ambassador to China told his supporters that his third place finish was a "ticket to ride", saying his campaign will continue to South Carolina. For a candidate who skipped the Iowa caucus and dumped all of his resources into the Granite State, garnering only 17% of the vote does not bode well for the campaign trains destination.
Any perceived success of Huntsman in New Hampshire is blunted by the fact that he hasn't been vetted: nationally Huntsman's support remains below a dismal 3% percent and no one perceives him as a threat. Other candidates have surged in the polls, then fallen after having their past scrutinized. To help Huntsman savor his "victory" in New Hampshire, we'll give the moderate Republican a brief vetting.
Huntsman likes to don a flannel shirt and jeans on the campaign trail to appeal to the masses, however, his folksy wardrobe does not obfuscate the fact that his privileged life as the son of a billionaire opened many doors leading to his success.
Huntsman's biography reads more like the tale of a spoiled rich kid rather than the pedigree of a United States president. As a teen, Huntsman dropped out of high school to pursue his rock band career. When that didn't pan out, he eventually got his GED and then obtained a BA in International Politics from the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduating from college, Huntsman snagged several prime appointments in the Reagan and Bush Administrations - something cynics might argue had more to do with his father's success and money than Jon Jr's academic performance. Jon Huntsman, Sr, is a self-made chemical company titan who is highly regarded for his business acumen, integrity, work ethic and philanthropy. According to Jon Jr's campaign website, his only private sector experience was working for his father's companies (does nepotism come to mind?)
Huntsman, who is used to getting what he wants as a result of the birth lottery, is finding that voters aren't overly impressed with a guy who has built his career on his father's accomplishments. Perhaps it's time that Huntsman pursues his rock band ambitions and leaves the presidential race to the big boys.
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