Turns out Jon Huntsman, still the White House’s Ambassador to China for a month or so longer while he sets up an expected presidential run, liked to say nice things about President Obama in the form of letters written in his own hand.
In letters obtained and published today by the Daily Caller, Huntsman calls Obama “a remarkable leader.” The word remarkable, as the Caller’s Jonathan Strong notes, is underlined.
Good idea if you’re trying to suck to the boss. Bad idea if you’re hoping to mount a legitimate campaign to remove him from office.
Check out the letter to Obama, written as Huntsman — still the governor of Utah — prepared to head out for his stint as Obama’s liaison to China via this PDF posted by the Caller.
There’s a second letter the site obtained where Hunstman is effusive in his praise for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Also not a great move if you’re planning on entering a Republican presidential primary field next year. But probably not as tough on Huntsman’s chances as that whole underlined “remarkable” thing.
Nearly everyone has seen this coming. Obama has enjoyed discussing the idea that a member of his administration might run against him next year, joking that “I’m sure the fact that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary.”
Last month, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu (R) also warned Huntsman against making a run for the White House. Simply put, Sununu said, “He’s still an Obamaite. We’re not going to nominate an Obamaite.”
But Team Huntsman seems to think the publication of the letters is a sign that Huntsman’s being underestimated. One of Huntsman’s advisers told the Caller the letters were clearly released by the White House, which means that they must think Huntsman’s still the danger to a second Obama term he supposedly was when the president sent him to China in the first place.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegation from TPM.
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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