Speaking in front of the Statue of Liberty Tuesday in New Jersey, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman entered the Republican presidential primaries.
What we now need is leadership that trusts in our strength, said Huntsman in his speech.
The father of seven children, Huntsman, who remains unknown to many voters across the nation and has been consistently trailing in the polls, offered a stark picture for the need to cut federal spending.
We must make hard decisions that are necessary to avert disaster, said Huntsman. If we dont, in less than a decade, every dollar of federal revenue will go to covering the costs of Medicare, Social Security and interest payments on our debt.
Huntsman warned about the dangers of losing faith in ourselves and warned that the American Dream was at risk.
Meanwhile, we'll sink deeper in debt to pay for everything else from national security to disaster relief, added Huntsman. Our country will fall behind the productivity of other countries. Our influence in the world will wane. Our security will be more precarious. The 21st century then will be known as the end of the American century. We cant accept this, and we wont.
The son of the founder of chemical company Huntsman Corp. who was first elected governor of Utah back in 2004 and re-elected in 2008, Huntsman highlighted his record in Salt Lake City.
We cut taxes and flattened rates, said Huntsman. We balanced our budget; worked to maintain our AAA bond rating. When the economic crisis hit, we were ready. And by many accounts we became the best state for business and the best managed state in America. We proved government doesnt have to choose between fiscal responsibility and economic growth.
After winning another term, Huntsman -- who had nominated Sarah Palin for vice president during the 2008 campaign -- was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as ambassador to China. This was not Huntsmans first stint in foreign policy in regard to Asia. He worked there back in the 1980s and served as a deputy assistant secretary of commerce with his focus on trade and commerce with East Asian and Pacific nations in George H.W. Bushs administration. Huntsman also served as ambassador to Singapore under the first President Bush and would later work in George W. Bushs administration as deputy U.S. trade representative.
Huntsman --who, like Republican front-runner Mitt Romney, isa Mormon --has trailed in the polls since his name started generating buzz that he would run for the Republican presidential nomination. The former Utah governor plans to base his campaign in Orlando and has brought aboard several prominent Florida Republican activists on his team.
After his speech, Huntsman headed to New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary. The new candidate has already written off the Iowa caucus which precedes the New Hampshire primary. Later in the week, Huntsman heads down to South Carolina and then to Orlando.
Huntsman, who has been under fire from some conservatives for working in the Obama administration, tried to separate himself from the president in his speech.
I respect the president, said Huntsman. He and I have a difference of opinion on how to help the country we both love. But the question each of us wants the voters to answer is who will be the better president, not whos the better American.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
