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SALT LAKE CITY – Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Friday he and his family are gathering here this weekend to talk about whether he should run for president.
"This is not an easy decision to make," Huntsman told reporters before he entered the members-only Alta Club to meet with some of Utah's most powerful business and community leaders.
"It carries with it wide-ranging implications for us immediately and for people around us," he said. "And we want to make sure we're pretty methodical and contemplative as we go about making that decision."
This is not an easy decision to make. It carries with it wide-ranging implications for us immediately and for people around us. We want to make sure we're pretty methodical and contemplative as we go about making that decision.
–Jon Huntsman Jr.
Back only weeks from serving as U.S. ambassador to China, Huntsman said he expects to make up his mind soon.
"We're moving inexorably in that direction and I think in the next few weeks, we'll arrive at a decision," he said.
Huntsman said the news that Mitt Romney, another Mormon with Utah ties, is expected to announce his bid for the White House next Thursday in New Hampshire won't affect his plans.
"We kind of look straight ahead at what a terrific country we have and what might need to be addressed, and make a decision on our own timeline," he said.
That decision is being discussed while Huntsman is in Utah for his son Will's graduation from Judge Memorial High School.
"We're having some family discussions right here over this very weekend with some of our kids coming in from other places," he said. "So we can sit here in a place we love and talk about the future."
Huntsman was less willing to talk about his recent statements on his faith. Asked by Time magazine if he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Huntsman said that's "tough to define."
He suggested Friday he settled the issue in his first national TV interview since returning from China.
"I think we answered it pretty well. Sometimes things are misconstrued. We were very clear on ABC with George Stephanopoulos after one question got it a little askew. We're very proud of our heritage, very proud of heritage," he said.
But asked specifically if he were an active member of the LDS Church, Huntsman abruptly said, "I think we've talked about this enough. I think you guys have already talked about it enough, too," before walking into the downtown club.
Email:lroche@ksl.com
