Posted on 12/02/2011 1:15:05 PM PST by TBBT
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is skipping next week's presidential primary debate in Iowa. ABC is to televise the event nationally. Huntsman on Friday says he'll instead have a town hall-style meeting on Dec. 10 in New Hampshire, a state that is central to his political strategy. Huntsman has written-off Iowa and has spent neither time nor money there. Huntsman also has accepted an invitation to do a one-on-one debate with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire. The two will meet in Windham for a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate with tea party activists on Dec. 12. Gingrich has invited each of his rivals for one-on-one conversations.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Wonder how Huntsman's performance in NH impacts Romney...?
Wonder if Newt will be able to get any of the others to do the Lincoln-Douglas sit down...?
Looks like Newt’s gonna do a 1on1 with his future VP. Couple of RINO drek!
Strategic mistake on Newt’s part. Letting Huntsman on stage with him one on one raises his stature on a par with Newt’s, albeit just for one night. Why give him a hand up when he is stuck in last place?
Maybe Huntsman’s gesture will take votes away from Romney. Wouldn’t it be awesome if Romney finished 3rd in NH?
Yeah, and Huntsman’s not going to be an ignorant suck-up like Cain was.
Say what you want about Gingrich, his style of campaigning is impressive to watch.
Why bother. Everyone knows Newt is good in the debates. The candidates are better served telling Newt to screw and get out there and run their own campaigns. The only one helped by these things is the man pushing them. If Newt thinks he is getting Obummer to one of these, he is more out of his mind than it first appeared.
I agree that was disappointing. Huntsman and Gingrich should be good.
Huntsman is a lot sharper than Cain...we’ll see how Newt handles it...better matchup...
Yes, but if most of the R candidats agree to it, and then Obama won’t, it makes Obama look weak and frightened.
Get on the SENATE races, we are dead freepers, we are going to see 3rd 4th 5th 6th parties entering the presidential.
GIG IS UP!!! Newt is the head squish...
Support your GOP Senators now...
Any time Newt has a microphone, it’s a risky situation for him. We’ll see if any news is made. For Huntsman, it’s a no-brainer. Nothing to lose, everything to gain, even though he’ll never catch on with the base.
I would go Hunstman any day compared to the narcissist and pompous a** Newt.
“Why give him a hand up when he is stuck in last place?”
He made the offer to all of them.
Questionable strategy by Newt. He elevates Huntsman who can really benefit from the exposure, and he also opens himself up to attack from Huntsman - no doubt Huntsman will look for opportunities to draw blood.
However, this setup is right in Gingrich’s wheelhouse. There’s no one better in a debate format than Gingrich - especially one where the moderator’s role is limited and the candidates have free reign more or less.
This will make good TV!
You may be on to something with that comment. I hate to agree with it, but there is no choice.
The only reason I can see for Newt to elevate Huntsman is so that he can cut into Romney’s NH advantage.
Smart gambit on Newt’s part.
The funny thing is that Huntsman is a pretty conservative fellow...unfortunately, he bit on the “serve your country” China thing with Obama and now is dead to Conservatives...
There will be absolutely nothing for him to gain in a debate like this. Obummer would rather be thought of a weak than proved it.
As much as I don’t like Newt, I would sit back with popcorn and enjoy a Lincoln-Douglas debate between the Newtster and the Cretin-in-Chief.
The term “fish in a barrel” comes to mind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.