But as a pre-PS, he acknowledges you always have to wonder when the other side starts talking up a candidate from the opposing party.
To wit: Patty Murray 2016! Tremble!
But Marc Ambinder makes a good point re: the 2012 calendar, and the threat of restless independents and Democrats. (Incidentally, this is why Charlie Crist would be a viable dark horse, even with grassroots distrust. New Hampshire's there for the taking. And with his proven appeal to independents and Dems in Florida, as well as his non-Mormon factor, his case is even more compelling).
But on to the Huntsman point:
I'm speculating here about facts not yet in evidence -- the 2012 GOP calendar -- but we do know one thing: independents won't be distracted by a Democratic race in New Hampshire. There will be a big enough pool of pro-gay civil union moderate voters who are happy to make Huntsman their Mormon -- assuming that another Mormon, Mitt Romney, is also in the race and is by 2012 a dedicated social conservative.
Why mention Mormonism? South Carolina. A divided field, though, could be to any candidate's benefit, and depending upon the press dynamics, a win by a Huntsman rival there might not mean much.
Given the king-making role Florida played in 2008, the state will almost certainly schedule its primary in January of 2012. Huntsman could win Florida. He could do well in Michigan.... you see where this is heading.
And on a PS note, Chris Cillizza says John Weaver's providing "strategic guidance" to Jon Huntsman, whatever that means. Is it Rove/Hutchison; Coale/Palin style? Or something more formal?
