Jon Huntsman courts GOP senators:
Huntsman, who served as President Barack Obama’s ambassador to China until resigning April 30, made what Thune described as a courtesy call while traveling to key states on the Republican presidential primary calendar.
Thune told Roll Call that his relationship with Huntsman dates back to their mutual support for the 2008 presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), adding that they have traveled together to Iraq.
“He’s just returned from a stint in China and is giving a lot of consideration whether or not to make this race, and I’m guessing he’ll probably say something before too long,” Thune said.
Huntsman, the former governor of Utah, is relatively unknown in Congress. But Senate Republicans seemed open to learning more about him, even though he would be running to unseat the administration in which he recently served in such a high-profile post.
As David Drucker reports at Roll Call, Huntsman is making the rounds. Senate GOP aides tell me that their bosses are getting calls. From what I hear, the former Utah governor is looking to huddle with both tea-party freshmen and old bulls.