Huntsman jumps ahead with jobs plan

Gilford, New Hampshire (CNN) - Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman will announce his jobs plan Wednesday, a week before his rival for the GOP presidential nomination Mitt Romney and President Obama unveil their own competing plans to jumpstart the nation's economy.

Huntsman, a former governor who recently served as the U.S. ambassador to China, has been criticized for not presenting a detailed economic plan. He will emphasize the need to promote small business growth during his visit to a metal fabrication shop in New Hampshire.

"Governor Huntsman is going to lay-out an economic agenda that would turn our economy around and allow entrepreneurs to thrive and create jobs - just as he did in Utah, where the state led the nation in job growth," Huntsman spokesman Michael Levoff said.

On the campaign trail, Huntsman often touts his record of job creation during his time as Utah governor and promises he would apply a similar low-tax, low-regulation approach if elected president.

Huntsman, who is polling in the low single digits, has intensified his attacks on rivals by saying their failure to support the debt ceiling deal in Washington would have nudged the country into default. He was the only major candidate to endorse the deal, which put him at odds with some conservatives who pushed for deeper spending cuts.

His announcement comes as Obama prepares to release his plan for spurring job growth sometime after Labor Day. Romney has said he, too, will release details of his plan on Sept. 6.

Huntsman will make his announcement on Aug. 31 at Gilchrist Metal Fabricating in Hudson, further emphasizing his commitment to the first-in-the-nation primary state that plays a critical role in his strategy to try and win the GOP nomination.

"He believes its time for us to make 'Made in America' mean something again, and a Granite State manufacturer is a great place to start," Levoff said.