Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. appeared on two cable news programs Monday defending Utah's decision to take federal stimulus dollars — and made an effort to look presidential while doing it.

With Washington, D.C., as a backdrop, the governor took a jab at Republicans for resorting to "gratuitous political griping" and "carping" on MSNBC over President Obama's federal stimulus bill, which will bring $1.5 billion to Utah.

Huntsman warned the "Republican party will be flat on its feet" unless it starts looking for solutions to the nation's problems, especially the economic crisis. He said he was not talking about fellow Republican governors who want to reject the federal dollars, but "where the Republican Party needs to go."

And on CNN, Huntsman said "we're all going to have a collective conversation" about tax increases "that we've never had in recent times." He cited Utah's looking at raising cigarette taxes and motor vehicle taxes — both his proposals this session.

His live interviews took place during a five-day trip that included a political stop in South Carolina, a key GOP early-primary state. They come at the same time another potential Republican presidential candidate, former Utah Olympic boss Mitt Romney, was helping to fund the GOP members of Congress who opposed the stimulus bill.

Romney's Free and Strong America political action committee sent $1,000 checks to 11 House Republicans who have been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for their votes against the stimulus.

Romney said, "What Republicans wanted was a bill to strengthen the economy. What the Democrats passed was a bill to stimulate government. We are committed to helping these courageous Republicans defend their position and fend off political attacks."

Romney called Obama's stimulus package "a missed opportunity to make this country stronger."

The House Republicans that Romney sent money to include Judy Biggert and Mark Kirk of Illinois; Ken Calvert of California; Michael Castle of Delaware; Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania; Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania; Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri; Dan Lungren of California; Thad McCotter of Michigan; Dave Reichert of Washington; and Pete Sessions of Texas.

Also, Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., was targeted by the DCCC, but he is not running for re-election so Romney's PAC did not send him a check.

Romney called the group the "undaunted dozen" and praised them for "standing up for fiscal responsibility and saying no to spending abuse."

Huntsman appears to be trying to position himself as a moderate Republican with his interviews Monday and his recent support here at home for civil unions and the "Common Ground" package of gay rights bills, which attracted national attention.

He has been described as an attractive candidate for the White House by many national political observers, including the Washington Post.