TPMDC

Huntsman On Awkward Bachmann Quote: I Was Trying To Compliment Her

Jon Huntsman

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman raised a few eyebrows yesterday when he described Rep. Michele Bachmann’s press coverage thusly:

“She makes for good copy—and good photography.” The quote came in the middle of a massive feature about Huntsman and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney running in the latest issue of New York, and was part of a discussion about the media coverage Bachmann gets versus her potential to actually win the nomination.

On Fox News Tuesday, Huntsman said the quote was a compliment.

“Oh, listen, I was trying to compliment Rep. Bachmann,” he said. “Calling somebody photogenic — I wish we were all that photogenic.”

Huntmsan is also fairly photogenic, as the 2012 Republican field goes anyway. And the New York article’s author, John Heilemann, called Huntsman’s comments “somewhat indelicate.” Nevertheless, Hunstman told Fox that he has nothing but good things to say about Bachmann, who is way ahead of him in primary polls.

“She’s an elected official, she’s doing a great job and I have high regard for her,” Huntsman said.

Top Stories From TPM

Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid

Ohio Republicans Push Law To Penalize Colleges For Helping Students Vote

Secret Service Looking Into Radio Host’s Graphic Violent Comments About Obama, Hillary Clinton

VA GOP's Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

The NRA Thinks These Are The ‘Coolest Gun Movies’ Ever

What Republicans Already Knew About The White House Benghazi Emails

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll