Jon Huntsman Tries to Spin Third Place in New Hampshire

Despite finishing behind Mitt Romney and Ron Paul in the New Hampshire primary with 17 percent of the vote, Jon Huntsman attempted to claim a victory on Tuesday night.

Having focused heavily on New Hampshire, even noting that nobody else even came close" to the 170 events he held in the Granite State, Huntsman attempted to claim momentum.

I think were in the hunt, Huntsman maintained. I say third place is a ticket to ride.

Talking to supporters, Huntsman repeated his recent campaign slogan of country first and focused on foreign policy, arguing that the U.S. can no longer afford military operations like those in Afghanistan. He also pushed congressional term limits, insisting there was a trust deficit in America.

Huntsman also insisted that he will compete in the Palmetto State. Hello, South Carolina, he told cheering supporters.

With that many events in the Granite State, Huntsman should have done better. Rick Santorum proved that with his surprise showing in Iowa last week.

Some of Huntsmans backers insist that he will do better the next time around, noting that Republicans always back presidential candidates who have run before. True enough. But another perceived moderate who finished third place in New Hampshire -- Lamar Alexander back in 1996 -- thought that he would bounce back in 2000. Nobody worked Iowa and New Hampshire harder between the 1996 and the 2000 elections than Alexander did. He was knocked out of the race after the Iowa straw poll in 1999. With his disappointing showing in New Hampshire, Huntsman could end up as Alexanders second coming.