<b>Full coverage:</b> Jon Huntsman
Cheryl Senter / Associated Press
Jon Huntsman
Fmr. Utah governor | Age 51
Declared June 21, 2011 | Withdrew Jan. 15, 2012
The fluent Mandarin speaker, who as a young man was a Mormon missionary in Taiwan, resigned on April 30 as President Obama’s ambassador to China.
Huntsman is less conservative than others in the GOP field. But by emphasizing his record as Utah governor, he could appeal to moderate and independent voters who fear a nominee from the far right might fail in a bid to unseat Obama.
He is married with seven children, two of whom are adopted.
— Associated Press
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Jon Huntsman became the first Republican candidate to snub a planned GOP candidates’ debate moderated by Donald Trump, with his campaign saying Republicans deserve “a serious discussion of the issues.”
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Jon Huntsman suggested Tuesday that Herman Cain’s personal saga is hurting the entire field of Republican presidential hopefuls, and that the former restaurant executive is right to reconsider his candidacy.
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What do Jon Huntsman and Kermit the Frog have in common?
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He and his backers insist he did nothing improper. But a structure for his GOP presidential campaign was firmly in place when he got home from China.
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Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mitt Romney both come from influential Mormon families; both are former governors; and after years of competing for stature, both may seek the 2012 nomination.
