Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman received a key endorsement Thursday from a popular newspaper in the state where his rival Mitt Romney used to govern, The Boston Globe.
The Globe editorial claims that Mr. Romney and Mr. Huntsman are the only two “truly presidential” Republican candidates remaining in the race.
In the two days immediately following Mr. Romney’s narrow victory in Iowa, Mr. Huntsman embraced a motto of “nobody cares,” regarding the Iowa caucus results.
The former Utah governor has remained committed to courting voters in New Hampshire throughout his campaign. He skipped one of the nationally televised debates in Iowa, and remained in New Hampshire as his rival candidates awaited the results of the Iowa caucus votes Tuesday.
The Boston Globe endorsement mentions Mr. Romney’s “track record of success,” but claims that Mr. Huntsman has done a better job of articulating his goals and ideas. The editorial also cites his track record of job creation as the governor of Utah, and his international record as former U.S. Ambassador to China under the Obama administration.
“While Romney proceeds cautiously, strategically, trying to appease enough constituencies to get himself the nomination, Huntsman has been bold. Rather than merely sketch out policies, he articulates goals and ideals,” said the editorial published Thursday. “With a strong record as governor of Utah and US ambassador to China, arguably the most important overseas diplomatic post, Huntsman’s credentials match those of anyone in the field.”
A Suffolk University poll of likely New Hampshire voters released Wednesday showed Mr. Huntsman in third place, trailing Mr. Romney and Texas congressman Ron Paul. It will be interesting to see if the Globe’s endorsement and Mr. Huntsman’s performance in the ABC News hosted presidential debate Saturday can help him build some last minute momentum the way rival candidate Rick Santorum did in Iowa.
The Hunstman campaign has been trying to increase its’ fundraising efforts recently, so that it can air a new television ad in New Hampshire, likely attacking the front runner Mr. Romney.
According to his campaign website, he has been seeing an increase in the number of supporters at his campaign stops lately, a sign that he could be digging into Mr. Romney’s substantial lead in the Granite state.
Jeff Wright, Mr. Huntsman’s national finance campaign chairman said that their staff was very please to receive an endorsement Thursday from “New England’s largest newspaper.”
