From Deseret News archives:

Utah governor backs McCain; his dad prefers Romney

Governor's stance is tied to global, Western issues

Published: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 11:52 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has picked his preferred presidential candidate for the 2008 Republican nomination — and it's not fellow Mormon and former Utah Olympic leader Mitt Romney.

Instead, Huntsman's office said Wednesday that Utah's governor will serve as one of many co-chairmen of early frontrunner Sen. John McCain's political-action committee, Straight Talk America.

"The governor has a great deal of respect for Gov. Romney of Massachusetts," said Huntsman's spokesman, Mike Mower. "He felt he did an admirable job as head of our Olympic committee here in Utah and is a strong and effective governor in Massachusetts."

But in the end, Huntsman found he had more in common with McCain when it came to Western issues, as well as foreign policy, Mower said, adding that McCain's "understanding of America's role in the world is unparalleled."

Huntsman's decision to help the Arizona Republican prepare for a likely presidential bid comes despite having advised Romney, now governor of Massachusetts, on foreign-policy issues in anticipation of a possible run for the White House.

The governor's father, Jon Huntsman Sr., is one of Romney's biggest supporters.

Story continues below
"It was absolutely a surprise," said Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and legal counsel to Romney's Commonwealth PACs. "The Huntsman family, including the governor, have been extremely supportive of Gov. Romney."

According to a recent Deseret Morning News analysis, Jon Huntsman Sr. had given Romney's PACs nearly $130,000 and is the Romney committee's national finance co-chairman. Romney has relied on Utahns for nearly half the money his PACs have collected.

"It's no secret that McCain has actively courted Gov. Huntsman, presumably because he sees Gov. Romney as his biggest rival if they both get into the race," Jowers said. Still, he said, Romney shouldn't be hurt by not having the support of Utah's governor.

Craig Goldman, executive director of McCain's PAC, said Huntsman is expected to "boost (McCain's) efforts as far as the PAC goes in all the Western states, including Utah." Huntsman will help choose the Western candidates who receive money from McCain's PAC.

McCain asked Huntsman to join the PAC last week, when the governor was in Washington to meet with administration officials about a number of Utah issues. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Huntsman urged McCain then to run for president.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Guess if Meyer says he's staying at Florida then he definitely is headed to...

Bronco, Kyle rubber match

ummm utah...dominating Defense???...when?...which game this year has utah...

Is there a liberal that doesn't want Palin to run? :-) BTW, I read. I know...

I totally agree with the author.

I wish I was there what a great win!

RSL championship rally Tuesday

I bet these soccer haters never commented on badminton articles, 'cause they...

This game started out as a ho hum affair then got interesting in the 3rd and...

Letters: Gays' parades offensive

12:31 p.m. I wasn't refering to Earl's comment specifically. This isn't...

Crimes up against gays, religious

Wow, so you pick and choose what data you believe, then discount facts along...

'Savior of the World' in Spanish

This could be a sting.

Advertisements