One of the most formidable threats to President Obama's 2012 re-election bid could come from within his own administration, says McKay Coppins in Newsweek. In 2008, former Utah governor Jon Huntsman was considered a rising star in the Republican Party and a likely presidential candidate. Then Obama appointed him as his ambassador to China in what some political strategists saw as a crafty way to sideline a potential rival. But now Huntsman is reportedly discussing a possible presidential run with advisers, and coyly refusing to rule out a 2012 campaign. Could Huntsman be the GOP's best bet to unseat Obama? (Watch Obama's appointment of Huntsman)
Nonsense. Huntsman would be toast in the primaries: This kind of speculation is fun, says James Fallows in The Atlantic, but it doesn't pass the "are you kidding?" test. The challenging party always accuses an incumbent president of ruining the country. After serving the president loyally, with no open disagreements, for so long, Hunstman won't be able to "out-anti-Obama" anyone. Sorry, but "Huntsman 2012" defies the "basic laws of politics and common sense."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.