Jon Huntsman's political rise

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman speaks at a rally in West Valley City, Utah, July 16, 2011. Huntsman rode with the group of motorcycle riders as part of a campaign stop. — AP Photo

When President Obama offered then-Utah Governor John Huntsman the U.S. ambassadorship to China in 2009 - and Huntsman accepted - pundits said the president had effectively sidelined a strong potential 2012 rival. But in January of 2011 Huntsman, a fluent Mandarin speaker, announced he was resigning from the position and later began to pursue a presidential bid -- in competition with his former boss. (He officially announced his candidacy on June 21, 2011.)

A Mormon like Mitt Romney, Huntsman is seen by supporters as a pro-business consensus builder who is relatively moderate on issues like gay rights and the environment. But while his moderate positions on social issues could help him in a general election, they could also complicate his path to the GOP nomination.

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Huntsman announces his Republican presidential candidacy at Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, N.J. on June 21, 2011. During the remarks surrounding his announcement, Huntsman pledged to run a civil campaign and claimed that while he and President Obama both love the United States, they have different visions for its future.

Former Utah governor and republican candidate for president Jon Huntsman kisses five month-old Mallory Blais during the Salem-Windham Republican Labor Day picnic on September 5, 2011 in Salem, New Hampshire.

Former Utah governor and Republican presidential canididate Jon Huntsman looks on with his wife Mary Kaye during a town hall style meeting at the Kendal Retirement Community on October 11, 2011 in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, talks to Paul Yeager of Reno, Nev., after competing in a Fast Draw competition during a campaign stop at the Reno Rodeo in Reno, Nev., June 24, 2011.

Republican Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman (2nd L) stands with his wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman (L), Ana Navarro (2nd R) and Jeb Bush, Jr. after holding a press conference at Scotty's Landing restaurant on August 10, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Huntsman, former Ambassador to China, used the press conference to announce the endorsement of his candidacy by Jeb Bush, Jr. and political strategist Ana Navarro as he campaigns across the country.

Huntsman addresses the Faith and Freedom Coalition June 3, 2011 in Washington. The Faith and Freedom Coalition is holding their second annual conference and strategy briefing over two days in the nation's capital.

Huntsman and embassy personnel leave the Supreme People's Court in Beijing on February 18, 2011 to brief the media as Huntsman called for the "immediate" release of Chinese-born American geologist Xue Feng. A Chinese court rejected an appeal against his conviction and an eight-year sentence on a state secrets charge. The U.S. has repeatedly raised concerns over whether Xue's rights were being protected, and whether he had access to a fair trial.

Formerly the U.S. ambassador to China, Huntsman tastes a Hunan cuisine at Huogongdian on February 9, 2011 in Changsha, Hunan Province of China. Hunstman resigned during his second term as the Governor of Utah in 2009 to take on the role of ambassador to China.

Huntsman and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton walk down the steps of Clinton's plane upon arrival at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, May 23, 2010.

Photo by Ng Han Guan - Pool/Getty Images

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., (center), listens to Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, (right) as Huntsman looks on during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People on April 21, 2011 in Beijing, China. Reid led a delegation of nine other U.S. senators to China for talks with officials on topics from clean energy to human rights. Huntsman's resignation as ambassador to China took effect at the end of April 2011.

Huntsman greets visitors at the opening of the U.S. pavilion on the first day of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai on May 1, 2010. Millions of people were believed to have attended the event, which ran for six months and was aimed at boosting the image of China's biggest city and demonstrating the nation's rising global clout.

Huntsman leaves a "Topping Off" ceremony, which marked the completion of the super structure of the U.S.A Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, on October 14, 2009.

Huntsman speaks on day four of the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center on September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Huntsman, Former Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speak to the media during a press conference at the Million Air FBO on March 27, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Huntsman signs a proclamation commemorating the destruction of the one millionth chemical munition at the Desert Chemical Depot, part of an effort to reduce what was once half the nation's chemical weapon stockpile, on March 9, 2005 near Tooele, Utah.