McCain to introduce Huntsman at confirmation hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. will be introduced by former GOP presidential nominee John McCain at Thursday's confirmation hearing on Huntsman's nomination as ambassador to China.

The Arizona senator and longtime friend of Huntsman will be joined for the introduction before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by Utah's two senators, Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, according to the committee. Traditionally, only the two senators representing a nominee's home state appear, although it is not unusual for other senators to participate in person or by putting a statement in the record.

"He's pleased Sen. McCain is able and will to do this," Huntsman spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said. "His support is appreciated."

The committee is not expected to vote until next Tuesday at the earliest on Huntsman's nomination, which then needs to be approved by the full Senate. Huntsman has said he will then resign as governor, so Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert can take over.

Unlike most of his fellow Republicans in Utah, Huntsman supported McCain over "favorite son" candidate Mitt Romney, a member of the LDS Church and the head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Romney won Utah's GOP presidential primary in early February with a whopping 90 percent of the vote but dropped out of the race soon after. In the November election, McCain beat President Barack Obama in Utah.

The Democratic president surprised many in mid-May by announcing Huntsman as his choice for what's considered the nation's most import ambassadorship. Huntsman was already being touted as a potential GOP challenger himself to Obama in 2012.

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