Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman came out swinging against the Republican presidential field yesterday, saying his opponents have "zero substance." Huntsman's first Sunday show interview as a candidate comes after the former ambassador to China took to Twitter last week, declaring his belief in evolution and global warming. Many analysts interpreting the tweet as a jab at Texas Governor Rick Perry's controversial remarks. In an interview with ABC News, Huntsman addressed Perry's comments. He said, "I think there's a serious problem. The minute the Republican Party becomes the anti-science party, we have a huge problem. We lose a whole lot of people, who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012."
Huntsman also discussed Governor Perry's accusation that the Federal Reserve and its Chairman Ben Bernanke are guilty of committing treason. He said, "I'm not sure that the average voter out there is going to hear that treasonous remark and say that sounds like a presidential candidate, that sounds like someone who is serious on the issues. But it gets to a broader point at the fact that we have had so much hope and hype in politics the last little while. We've found ourselves at the extreme ends of the political spectrum and people are crying out for us to get back to some level of sensibility." Following Huntsman's ABC interview, the Democratic national committee blasted out a reel of the former Governor's critiques on his Republican opponents. The DNC's subject line read "Don't take our word for it."
It comes as speculation grows about whether other Republicans will jump into the race. Some names being floated are House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Christie and Ryan both deny any campaign plans, while Palin has said she would make her intentions clear by September. On Friday, Palin's political action committee released a web video featuring footage of her at the Iowa State Fair. In the video, Palin promises supporters to "see you again September third." Republican strategist and former Bush advisor Karl Rove says the ad looks "pre-presidential". He said, "this schedule that she's got next week in Iowa, it looks more like a candidate, not a celebrity." Mentioning that Palin needs to make a decision soon , Rove added, "you can only tease so many times in the political process and I think she's getting to the end of that."