The Iowa caucuses are now over and the candidates and their supporters are now shifting their focus to New Hampshire, where Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has been making a lot of noise.
On Wednesday, Mr. Huntsman dismissed his Republican rival Mitt Romney’s latest endorsement from U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ.), stating that he believes his commitment to courting New Hampshire voters will be rewarded in New Hampshire more than another “establishment” endorsement for Mr. Romney.
“I have great regard for Sen. McCain. I love the man. But it’s another example of the establishment piling on. And it seems the more the establishment piles on – (Bob) Dole, McCain, all the rest – nobody cares,” said Mr. Huntsman, The Huffington Post reports. “None of the endorsements Romney’s picked up have meant a thing in terms of how people respond, because people are looking for a new generation of leadership.”
An odd statement from the former Utah governor, who endorsed Mr. McCain in 2008 during his unsuccessful White House run and even campaigned for him in New Hampshire.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge joined Mr. Huntsman Wednesday and endorsed him while criticizing Mr. Romney’s “Believe in America” campaign slogan.
“All Republican candidates, and even President Obama, believe in America. The question is, who do we want to lead America? Who’s the principled leader we can trust?” said Mr. Ridge.
Mr. McCain became the 47th member of the Senate to endorse Mr. Romney thus far in the 2012 race.
Mr. Huntsman is hoping to experience a last minute surge leading up to the New Hampshire primary election next week, similar to the late surge that gave former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum a close second place finish in the Iowa caucus Tuesday.
The former Utah governor tied former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in a NH Journal/Magellan poll of likely New Hampshire Republican presidential primary voters released Monday. Mr. Huntsman and Mr. Gingrich garnered 12 percent of the votes each in the New Hampshire poll, well behind the 31 percent that Mr. Romney finished with in the same poll.
“They always reward the candidate who’s in this state shaking hands, having the town hall meetings. That’s what we’ve been doing for months and months,” said Mr. Huntsman Wednesday.
While his Republican rival candidates were in Iowa garnering last minute support from the Iowa caucus voters Tuesday night, Mr. Huntsman was watching from New Hampshire. He believes that the narrow victory by Mr. Romney signals a long and drawn out primary process.
“That means there’s a whole lot of blue sky for the rest of us in the race,” said Mr. Huntsman.
In addition to his “nobody cares” motto regarding Mr. McCain’s endorsement of Mr. Romney Wednesday. The former Utah governor ended the day in New Hampshire Tuesday night with a similar message for Mr. Romney, welcoming him to the Granite state.
“Welcome to New Hampshire. Nobody cares,” said Mr. Huntsman.
