Will Huntsman re-join Obama administration as secretary of state?

Especially, he said, since there are other moderate Republicans like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie poised to jump into the 2016 race and take the party in a different direction.

“He might as well go work for Obama again. I don’t think he could damage his reputation that much more than he has already done,” Scala said.

Another option for Huntsman would be running for office in Utah, possibly for the Senate seat now held by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. But Monson said that would be a tough race for Huntsman because of his moderate politics.

“I don’t’ know that he would get elected in Utah again as a Republican,” Monson said, suggesting Huntsman might have better luck as a Democrat. “I think his move ideologically to the center has helped his chances on the national stage” but not with the GOP in Utah.

Huntsman avoided directly attacking the GOP in his interview and said he cares more about the future of the country than the future of the Republican Party.

“It’s a time when people just want to know they’re going to be OK,” he said. “Sometimes party politics can run counter to the reassurance that people are looking for, so it’s a time when we need to start thinking about what’s right for the country most of all. And then I think party politics will follow.”

Contributing: John Daley

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