Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman spent Monday night continuing to stump in New Hampshire, where polls seem to indicate the former Utah Republican is experiencing a last-minute surge of support.
Speaking to a group of supporters, the Utah Republican took direct aim at former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, criticizing the former governor’s record on creating jobs.
“It has become abundantly clear over the last couple of days what differentiates Gov. Romney and me,” said Mr. Huntsman said during a stop in Concord, New Hampshire. “I will always put my country first. It seems that Gov. Romney believes in putting politics first. Gov. Romney enjoys firing people. I enjoy creating jobs.”
Mr. Huntsman’s surge comes as polls throughout the entire campaign cycle have shown the Utah Republican far behind the rest of the Republican field. Recent polls released late Monday show continue to show Mr. Romney leading by a double-digit lead, however, support for Mr. Huntsman has steadily grown in recent days as the former Utah governor has increased his criticism of Mr. Romney.
Still, speaking to group of supporters on Monday, Mr. Huntsman conceded that he remains the underdog candidate, telling supporters that recent attacks from the Romney campaign prove that his campaign is being taken seriously.
Mr. Huntsman also used the opportunity to criticize Mr. Romney’s attack questioning Mr. Huntsman’s commitment to the Republican Party.
“I was criticized last night by Governor Romney for putting my country first,” said Mr. Huntsman. “He criticized me, while he was out raising money, for serving my country in China – yes, under a Democrat, like my two sons are doing in the United States Navy. They’re not asking who … [or] what political affiliation the president is. And I want to be very clear with the people here in New Hampshire and this country: I will always put my country first.”
Whether Mr. Huntsman is able to secure a second place victory remains to be seen. The Huntsman campaign, for their part, said they will remain in the race for as long as it takes to secure the nomination, and they noted that they will increase their criticism of Mr. Romney’s record in the coming weeks.
“The race is pretty clearly defined now,” said John Weaver, Mr. Huntsman’s senior strategist. “Governor Romney at every level and every opportunity chooses politics first, whether in the expediency of his beliefs or attacking someone who chooses to serve his country.”
