Huntsman Hits the Upstate; Greer Yesterday, Greenville Today

The audience at Mutt’s Barbeque in Greer was sweltering in the summer heat, which was a sharp contrast to Republican presidential contender Jon Huntsman, who didn’t appear to break a sweat in his first foray into the Upstate since announcing his candidacy.

Huntsman's confident bearing was no doubt helped by the presence of former Attorney General and longtime state GOP leader Henry McMaster, who introduced and endorsed Huntsman to several dozen diners and a sizable press gathering.

Huntsman is expected to pick up another endorsement later today when he speaks at the International Center for Automotive Research in Greenville.

Though Huntsman has received media attention that most candidates would cherish, he hasn’t performed well in polling since he entered the race last month. Still, some insiders think he has a genuine chance at the nomination. State GOP officials have pointed out that South Carolina voters—in the Upstate in particular—don’t judge a candidate based on polling or media hype. It’s what they see from the candidate when they shake his hand that will tell them what they need to know. Last night many of them got that opportunity with Jon Huntsman.

After the introduction from McMaster, Huntsman took center stage and proceeded to rattle off the key issues that he believes will be critical to the nation’s turnaround. In doing so, he established his conservative credentials, an attempt to put to rest any notion that he might not pass a certain kind of litmus test.

To wit: Huntsman re-affirmed his support for the Paul Ryan budget plan, the revoking of “Obamacare,” the need for energy independence, his distaste for foreign entanglements not clearly in the country’s interest and his belief in states’ rights. He said the time had come for a second Industrial Revolution. He invoked Ronald Reagan, for whom he served while still in his 20s.

Huntsman then directed his audience to the other Republican candidates in the field. “I will not run from my record as some others have run from theirs,” he said.

In a pointed reference to front-runner Mitt Romney, Huntsman compared the economic growth of Utah while he was governor, to that of Massachusetts while Romney was in charge. It was a comparison that favored Huntsman, who led Utah while it was named the most business-friendly state in the country.

Huntsman concluded by urging voters to take time to get to know him and to look at his record closely, because it would hold up to scrutiny. His speech accomplished what it needed to, according to some experts.

“He stayed on safe topics and those was the economic ones. But those are what are on peoples’ minds,” said LaDonna Ryggs, chairwoman of the Spartanburg GOP.

What Huntsman did not discuss was his support of his civil unions or his commitment to the environment or his two years as Ambassador to China under President Obama. Those topics are sure to arise as the campaign wears on.

During a session with reporters, Huntsman was asked why he did not sign the “Cut, Cap and Balance” Pledge created by South Carolina senator Jim DeMint. “I don’t sign pledges,” Huntsman said. “I say the Pledge of Allegiance and I have a pledge to my wife and that’s where I come down.”

Huntsman also said he had spoken to DeMint and reiterated his support for a balance budget amendment.

Earlier in the day, DeMint announced he would be holding a forum over the Labor Day holiday where he would speak with the Republican presidential candidates. Last month, DeMint indicated he could not support a Huntsman candidacy because of refusal to sign the pledge.

But DeMint was not on the minds of many at Mutt’s last evening. Much of the talk was on the strong organization that Huntsman has built in South Carolina. An organization that, in addition to McMaster, includes Mike Campbell, who ran Mike Huckabee’s South Carolina campaign in 2008 and is the son of former governor Carroll Campbell.

McMaster said Huntsman recognizes the importance of South Carolina. “South Carolina will be the lynchpin for him and he’ll do well here,” McMaster said. “Everyone who meets him his impressed by him.”

Indeed, by the time he headed home for the evening Huntsman made sure he shaken every hand in Mutt’s. The combination of personal charisma and experience is what makes Huntsman so formidable according to Campbell.

“It may sound corny, but people are energized by a new face and that’s what Huntsman is,” he said. “Plus, he’s got the best resume of any candidate since George H.W. Bush.”

Though it is still early in the race, McMaster acknowledged that last night was crucial. “He knew how important it was tonight,” McMaster said. “And he hit it out of the park.”