Concord, New Hampshire (CNN) - The day after debating his competitors in Ames, Iowa, former Gov. Jon Huntsman made it clear he'd left his heart in New Hampshire.
Huntsman has pinned his hopes on winning the fiscally conservative first-in-the-nation primary state and has chosen to bypass the Iowa caucuses, which tend to reward socially conservative candidates.
The Republican face-off came two days before the closely-watched Ames Straw Poll, which Huntsman will also skip. While many of his competitors greeted voters at the Iowa State Fair, Huntsman told reporters Friday it was good to be back up north after a debate that was "tilted in terms of time and questions" toward the Iowa contest.
"I'm delighted to be back in New Hampshire," he said. "And we're going to focus laser-like on New Hampshire for the next little while."
The candidate continues to struggle in the polls and has planned a raft of events in the state, including five stops on Saturday alone.
The former ambassador to China was also asked about Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who plans to announce his candidacy in South Carolina Saturday before attending an evening house party in Greenland, New Hampshire.
"He brings some real successes to the race as governor," Huntsman said. "Rick has done a nice job, and I think he'll be a forceful addition to the race."
From CNN Politics
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["He brings some real successes to the race as governor," Huntsman said. "Rick has done a nice job, and I think he'll be a forceful addition to the race."]
Yep, it's still time to get that 2nd Position if you act nice!!!
Huntsman was very weak in the debate and his voice sounded nervous! He needs to get over that if he wants to beat Bachmann – or MITTens – or others on stage.
You aren't qualified either. There is not one among you who is fit to govern America. Hatred, divisiveness and a total disregard for the middle class and the poor make you unqualified on all levels. We need a president who cares for all of America's people. We've got one now, President Obama, and the GOP is trying their best to guarantee him another 4 years. I'm all for that.
At least he is hoping for a VOTE to put him in the race. The vote-as-often-as-you-want system called a caucus- is a farce and proves nothing except who a select few say they like and then can change their minds and jump on another bandwagon.
Huntsman should have taken on Iowa, for better or for worse.
How can a man who belongs to a religious cult be considered to be president. Oh, yes! He is one of those nut case republicans and that is the best they can do along with all their other candidates. all loony tunes!
Huntsman lost my vote with his position on the EPA. The environment is too important, and I will not support anyone who is anti-environment.
Humans are killing the planet, and unless we guard it well, it is not going to survive.
Hunts Man is still going with his phony "moderate" stealth plan. Behind the mask he's still a corrupt corporatist cultist, with his partyboy background as a rich trust fund kid living off his family's chemical company fortune. Hey, he knows mandarin, though, so that makes him appear more intelligent compared to the average teatard. What a scam!