Jon Huntsman

Morning Joe Hearts Huntsman
By Mark Finkelstein | May 23, 2011 | 11:12 AM EDT

"He's a Morning Joe candidate." That could be the kiss of death among Republican primary voters, but Mark Halperin meant it as a compliment.  Today's Morning Joe panel was unanimous in its praise for Huntsman's performance in New Hampshire over the weekend.

More from Mark Halperin:

"As impressive as any couple I've seen . . . I was pretty blown away by how effective he was . . . more [comfortable in his skin] than Barack Obama and George Bush, and they for me in my career have been the gold standard . . . One of the liberal trackers said 'I really like this guy.  I'd cross over.'"

View video after the jump.

George Stephanopoulos Badgers GOP Candidate; Four Years Ago, ABC Was Gentle With Dems
By Scott Whitlock | May 20, 2011 | 12:19 PM EDT

Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos conducted a confrontational interview with possible Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman on Friday, challenging the moderate governor from the right on spending and on the former Utah governor's praise of Barack Obama.

Stephanopoulos highlighted Huntsman's work for the Obama administration as ambassador to China: "The President is also a person, a particular person, President Barack Obama. You wrote to him saying, calling him a 'remarkable leader.' Do you stand by that?" After the Republican dodged, Stephanopoulos even followed up: "Do you believe he's a remarkable leader and are you in sync with his foreign policy?"

Although Stephanopoulos and ABC should be given credit for asking serious questions that conservative primary voters want to know, this isn't how the morning show treated Democrats in the 2008 cycle. Almost four years to the day, on May 21, 2007, GMA featured then-possible presidential candidate Al Gore for 10 and a half minutes.

Time Anoints Obama Ambassador Jon Huntsman as the GOP 'Cool Kid' In Weakest Field Since 1940?
By Tim Graham | May 18, 2011 | 10:47 AM EDT

Time magazine’s not being shy about who they like in 2012 GOP presidential field. A big spread in the May 23 edition is headlined "The Cool Kid: Jon Huntsman is a pro-civil union Mormon who spent nearly two years working for Obama." The main emphasis followed: 

He is, after all, a pro-civil-union Mormon who has just finished nearly two years of service for Obama in the land many Americans consider the new evil empire. He is pro-environment — a little too green for many in his party — and hardly anyone knows who he is. Though Huntsman's path to the nomination is a certified long shot, you have to wonder why so many on both the right and left seem to be freaking out at the prospect of his jumping into the race.