Jon Huntsman: Not ready for prime time

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

I told you about former Utah governor Jon Huntsman's surreal introduction campaign ad the other day. The era of surreal campaign ads? Apparently he is sticking with it. Huntsman released another in this series of surreal ads on Tuesday as he announced his candidacy for president.

Things didn't go well for Huntsman. His advance team did not scout out Liberty Park in New Jersey for the exact same camera angle that Ronald Reagan used in 1980, which he was hoping to invoke. His press packet incorrectly stated his announcement was in New York (New Jersey) and misspelled his name (John). The press covering his campaign was almost put on a flight to Saudi Arabia. The press bus got pulled over and ticketed on the New Jersey Expressway. The sound system didn't want to work. And Circle Line sightseeing tours anchored their boat directly behind his camera head shot.

Let's just say his campaign was not ready for prime time.

All campaigns have moments like this. So how did his speech go? "His speech was so devoid of meaningful assertions that Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler pronounces it virtually un-fact-checkable."

Key takeaway: Compared to the other GOP candidates, whose announcement speeches were packed with lurid and hallucinogenic falsehoods, this is a signal that Huntsman is not trying to win over the base with any outsized or crazy anti-Obama rhetoric. This guy is toast!

The Rachel Maddow Show had the best take on the day's miscues, and Huntsman's surreal campaign ads.

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