Huntsman Steps Into the Republican Presidential Candidate Vacuum

I have mentioned former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman because in my view he's just about the only sane presidential contender. The question is whether he has a snowball's chance in Hell of securing the GOP nomination given the extremism and outright insanity of today's GOP base. Jonathan Capehart at the Washington Post finds him an intriguing candidate - as do a number of those individuals who go by the oxymoron term "gay Republicans" as discussed by Politico. As several news outlets have reported, when asked about the possible passage of marriage equality in New York State, Huntsman indicated that he'd respect the state's decision. Obviously, such a statement plays well with moderates and progressives but must have set many in the GOP base into convulsions. Here are highlights from Capehart's column:
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Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman is getting into the race today for the Republican nomination for president, and I’m glad for it. Of all the candidates in the field, he’s the one I find most intriguing, for a couple of reasons.
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For the folks looking for a GOP alternative to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, Huntsman could fill the bill. They both look presidential and have families to match. They’re both smart and have substantial records to run on (and away from) in an appeal to voters. But there are two things that make Huntsman stand out and more promising to me. First, his stances on issues appear to be more firm than Romney’s.
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Second, Huntsman is willing to stand by positions he’s taken that very well could hurt him with the Republican Party faithful.
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It is that willingness to be unabashedly moderate in a party that has swung far to the right that makes Huntsman so appealing to me. And to many Republicans. GOP strategist Mark McKinnon, an adviser to 2008 presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said on “Morning Joe” today that he doesn’t think Huntsman is too moderate for the party. A nomination fight with Huntsman in it will be “a fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party.”
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As for the Politico coverage, note is taken to Huntsman's support for same sex civil unions. While I find civil unions to be too little and a case of "separate but equal" bullshit, Huntsman is the only GOP contender who has the balls to take the position. Here are highlights from Politico:
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[A] consultant for the campaign is fundraising off his support for civil unions. The email from Charles T. Moran, a vice chair with the California Log Cabin Republicans and a political consultant, highlights Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye's support for the LGBT community, adding as Utah's governor he's "talked the talk and walked the walk," and is "unique in his desire to have a fully inclusive campaign."
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Huntsman doesn't support gay marriage, but was considered to be a fairly pro-gay rights governor, including on issues like hospital visitation. He's also not making much of an overt play for social conservatives - most notably bypassing Iowa,
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Polling has indicated that voters nationally have moved on the subject of gay marriage, but it remains a potentially complicated issue in a Republican primary. And it is unusual to see an official fundraising appeal that highlights a national candidate's favorable stand on gay rights.
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I don't know if I could support Huntsman or not. But it would be nice to have a president who might actually be willing to be a leader rather than a timid follower like Obama has been throughout most of his time in the White House.