Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman declared his candidacy for president of the United States. Huntsman launched his campaign in the same location that Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for president in 1980. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman declared his candidacy for president of the United States on Tuesday in Liberty State Park, New Jersey.
“For the first time in our history, we are passing down to the next generation a country that is less powerful, less compassionate, less competitive and less confident than the one we got,” the Republican hopeful said. “This, ladies and gentlemen, is totally unacceptable and totally un-American.”
Huntsman launched his campaign in the same location that Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for president in 1980.
Over the weekend, Axelroad said that he was “surprised” to learn about Huntsman’s intention to run for president in 2012, but added that he certainly takes the Republican hopeful’s candidacy seriously.
A spokesman for Huntsman responded to the remarks from Axelrod by saying, “Axelrod’s comments are absurd. Gov. Huntsman’s record on health care and the economy (was) the opposite of President Obama’s top-heavy, government-centric, failed approach. That is the record he will run on.”
In large part, Huntsman has attempted to distance himself from the president amid recent speculation about his plans for 2012. Obama, however, has made light of the prospect that his former ambassador could run against him in the next election cycle.
“I’m sure the fact that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary,” the president joked earlier this year.
Huntsman addressed his presidential ambitions in an email to supporters ahead of his announcement on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve recently had the honor of serving as U.S. Ambassador to China. That view of America from 10,000 miles away is a picture of liberty, opportunity and justice; people secure in their rights and in love with their freedom, who’ve done more good for more people than any other nation in history,” he said. “Perhaps our strength at home has waned, but that perspective from afar has helped me see a path back to greatness.”
