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Jamie Dupree's Washington Insider

Posted: 1:22 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Another 2012 Republican 

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By Jamie Dupree

The race for the White House officially gets bigger today on the Republican side, as former Utah Gov. John Huntsman throws his hat into the ring. Meanwhile, the rumblings seem to get louder for a possible candidacy by Gov. Rick Perry of Texas.

As for Huntsman, he will start his campaign in New Jersey, just across the river from New York City, with the Statue of Liberty in the background.

It's a spot that was used by Ronald Reagan during his 1980 campaign to oust President Jimmy Carter; maybe you can see the parallels the Huntsman people hope to draw.

Reagan took out Carter and made him a one term President - Huntsman hopes to do the same to Barack Obama.

Huntsman was offering up some unique material on the internet to stir up some buzz about his candidacy, though it wasn't quite clear what.

"I don't get it," said one of my Twitter followers.

"Huntsman seems to be running a campaign aimed at stoners," was another review.

"It" was a series of videos released by Huntsman over the past week, which show a motorcyle rider out West - evidently the candidate.

There's some music, and then a message on the screen that simply says: "Tomorrow. The candidate for president who rides motocross to relax."


Most people probably have no idea who Huntsman is, or what he stands for, and that's one reason why Huntsman has been quietly trying to introduce himself to GOP members of Congress in recent weeks.

One Republican Senator who had dinner with Huntsman recently said the former Governor was impressive in person.

One thing that will certainly get a lot of close examination is that Huntsman was part of the Obama Administration until earlier this year, as he was U.S. Ambassador to China.

Just that fact alone is sure to make some GOP voters sit up and wonder about Huntsman, who even though he is seen as a more moderate Republican, may be able to jump right into the top tier of candidates vying for the nomination to unseat President Obama.

May be the most telling thing about Huntsman is how much attention the Obama team has given to Huntsman in terms of media interviews and jabs in recent weeks.

As for Rick Perry, the Texas Governor certainly stirred things up with his speech over the weekend at a Republican gathering in New Orleans.

Even more so than Huntsman, a Perry candidacy could really change the dynamic in this GOP race, and make it even more difficult for some of the longer shot candidates to break through.

Jamie Dupree

About Jamie Dupree

Jamie Dupree is the Radio News Director of the Washington Bureau of the Cox Media Group and writes the Washington Insider blog.

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