Huntsman Candidacy A Boon For GOP
As FrumForum noted a few hours ago, former governor of Utah Jon Huntsman Jr. will officially announce his candidacy this coming Tuesday at Liberty State Park, New Jersey. Huntsman’s entry is hugely positive for the general well-being of the GOP field -- he reemphasizes the primacy of the economy; he brings youth appeal; and he adds a cool composure that will appease partisan-weary voters.
The Economy: Last night’s GOP debate can be considered a success simply because the candidates spent the first hour (half the program) discussing the economy. With unemployment at 9.1 percent and the debt at record levels, the Republican strategy for 2012 should be: the economy, the economy, the economy.
Huntsman will help the Party stay economically focused -- it’s his favorite subject. When asked what he is proud of as a governor, he cites the $225 million tax cut he signed, Utah’s 3.5 percent growth rate over the past five years, and the Forbes awards Utah won for business environment. Almost half of American voters think that the economy is the most important issue of the day. There’s no reason to think that Huntsman won’t give the people what they want.
Youth Appeal: In 2008, 66 percent of young voters (18-29) voted for President Obama. In 2010, without President Obama on the ticket, young voters favored the Democratic Party over the Republican Party, 54 to 40 percent. Clearly, the Republican Party could use some help with young voters.
Huntsman can provide this help. Even if he’s not the eventual candidate, he will make the group as a whole look less stodgy. He’s only 51; he’s an avid outdoorsman and mountain biker; he spent a number of years in a rock band as an electric keyboardist; and it doesn’t hurt that he recently led South Carolina in its “kick ass” cheer at graduation.
Keeping It Calm: According to Time Magazine, Huntsman is one of the few politicians to possess the same cool demeanor as President Obama. Added to this, Huntsman has already declared that insulting President Obama (or competing Republicans) will not factor largely (if at all) into his campaign. Say what you will about the electoral efficacy of this strategy, but it will help the Republican contenders temper their collective image for the 82 percent of Americans who say they are “fed up with partisan bickering in Washington.”
Whether or not Jon Huntsman is the eventual Republican candidate, there’s strong reason to believe that by simply entering the race, he’s helping the party.