Mississippi governor Haley Barbour expressed support for former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Thursday afternoon, saying the Utah Republican is a solid conservative.
“So if you ask me if Jon Huntsman is qualified to be the Republican nominee for president of the United States, the answer is yes he is,” Mr. Barbour said in an interview with CNN’s John King.
The former RNC chairman also noted that rumors of a Republican Party demise in the 2012 campaign are overplayed.
“[It's] the same thing that Democrats were saying in 1991 when George H.W. Bush’s job approval was above the moon and no one very strong seem to be willing to run on the Democratic side … and then we had President Bill Clinton,” Mr. Barbour said.
“Many of these candidates are not well known,” The Republican governor noted, adding “I think next spring a summer we will have a candidate that stakcs up well against President aobama and a very unified party.”
Mr. Barbour’s comment is the first since her announced earlier this month that he would not seek the Republican presidential nomination. The Mississippi Republican was seen as a front-runner for presidential nomination, however, Mr. Barbour’s exit is largely seen to put pressure on Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, who has yet to announce his candidacy.
Mr. Huntsman, meanwhile, is traveling to New Hampshire, an indication that the former Utah governor is seriously considering entering the campaign. Mr. Barbour’s assertion of Mr. Huntsman’s Republican credentials come as questions concerning Mr. Huntsman role as ambassador to China under the appointment of President Obama.
