Jon Huntsman's political rise
When President Obama offered then-Utah Governor John Huntsman the U.S. ambassadorship to China in 2009 - and Huntsman accepted - pundits said the president had effectively sidelined a strong potential 2012 rival. But in January of 2011 Huntsman, a fluent Mandarin speaker, announced he was resigning from the position and later began to pursue a presidential bid -- in competition with his former boss. (He officially announced his candidacy on June 21, 2011.)
A Mormon like Mitt Romney, Huntsman is seen by supporters as a pro-business consensus builder who is relatively moderate on issues like gay rights and the environment. But while his moderate positions on social issues could help him in a general election, they could also complicate his path to the GOP nomination.More Coverage on Jon Huntsman
Credit: AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac
