Jon Huntsman Team Pledges He Will Take Part in Florida Straw Poll

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the front-runner for the Republican presidential notification in 2012, announced on Thursday that his campaign would not take part in straw polls, including one in Orlando in September. The team behind former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who has expressed interest in entering the primaries but has yet to formally announce his candidacy, insisted their candidate would enter the Florida straw poll if he runs.

"Should Governor Huntsman enter the race for the Republican nomination for president, we fully intend to compete in the Republican Party of Florida's Presidency 5 straw poll," said Susie Wiles, a veteran of Florida politics currently with Horizon-PAC, a group with ties to Huntsman."Governor Huntsman has made it abundantly clear that if he runs, he will campaign aggressively in Florida and base his campaign in his wife's hometown of Orlando. We feel very confident that the fresh leadership and problem-solving conservative record Governor Huntsman offers will resonate with Florida's Republican voters."