鈥淟eave out the name,鈥� says Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian at American University in Washington, D.C. 鈥淐an you even conceive of a Republican presidential nominee with the following r茅sum茅: worked for Barack Obama, was an envoy to China, of all countries, favors civil unions, favors action on global warming, once said he was comfortable with a mandate on health care 鈥� and is Mormon?鈥� he asks. 鈥淵ou have an impossible nominee.鈥�
Among Huntsman鈥檚 biggest offenses is his connection to Obama, who didn鈥檛 help matters when he heaped praise on his envoy. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary,鈥� the president said, smiling broadly. It was called 鈥渢he death hug.鈥�
As a Mormon, Huntsman will also be hard-pressed to capture the evangelical vote. And with low name recognition, he may struggle to get any votes. 鈥淗e has a bigger name ID problem than Tim Pawlenty,鈥� says O鈥機onnell.
And the 鈥渕oderate鈥� tag, commentators point out, doesn鈥檛 help.
