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Originally Posted by JoeRedskin
Disclaimer: I know nothing about Huntsman other than what 12th wrote and brief Wiki look (Yes, yes, it's worse than cliff notes but I just wanted the sound bite for now).
I am not sure "moderation" cuts it as a galvanizing electoral call. Obviously, it depends on his charisma - if he can get people excited about him and his positions. Again, I know nothing about the man, is he someone who, beyond good looks, can electrify a crowd with his ideas? Lacking this, i just don't see him overcoming the polarizing arguments likely to occur in the primary (can he get enough support from the solid right to win the nomination?)
We all know just how ineffective the rally cry of "Stay Medium!" is.
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Working across the party line is a big selling point for a lot of folks. Obama was medium and he sold himself as such relative to other democratic candidates and when McCain was his general election opponent guess which of the two was closer to the happy medium line? It certainly wasn't McCain. Look, even Bush sold himself as a Compassionate Conservative back in 1999, Clinton sold himself as a moderate too.
Time will tell if Huntsman has or can learn the required charismatic delivery to become president but I wouldn't bet against him in that regard. I would bet against him getting the nomination based on the probability that the GOP base will select Palin/Romney type as their nominee. Obama will easily dispatch Palin/Romney type candidates.
This is what a Republican use to look like: