Huntsman Forms Political Committee as He Mulls Presidential Run
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman formed a leadership political action committee today, an action that lets him raise money to hire aides and travel the country as he weighs a bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
Huntsman, 51, left his post as U.S. ambassador to China at the end of April and is considering a run for the White House against his former boss, President Barack Obama. His first public speech since leaving the administration is scheduled for May 7 in South Carolina, site of one of the early primaries in the 2012 campaign.
He can’t draw on the PAC’s treasury to directly fund a campaign, though the activities it funds can help lay the groundwork for a presidential run.
Other Republicans, including former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, also had leadership PACs before they formed exploratory committees and began raising money for a presidential campaign.
“This is simply an organizational step that allows Governor Huntsman to travel the country to discuss the issues he cares about as well as support Republican candidates,” said spokesman Tim Miller.
Another prospective 2012 Republican presidential candidate, former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, said today in an e-mail to supporters that a committee he formed last month to raise money for a possible campaign will become an official exploratory effort filed with the Federal Election Commission.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Washington at jsalant@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva at msilva34@bloomberg.net
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