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BRANDON, Fla. — Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is attempting to rev up his presidential campaign in Florida, making four appearances in the Tampa Bay area Saturday.
A significant hurdle for the GOP hopeful is that many die-hard Republicans in the Sunshine State barely know about him. And some conservative Republicans who do know about him are skeptical of his moderate reputation.
But at the Hillsborough County Republican Headquarters on Saturday, Huntsman emphasized conservative positions.
"This country needs a balanced budget amendment," he said, drawing cheers and applause from those in attendance.
Huntsman even worked in a joke about gun control.
"And when people say, 'Where do you stand on the Second Amendment?' I say, 'With a name like Huntsman, do you think I have a choice?" he quipped.
Huntsman is picking his battlefields carefully. Florida has become an important swing state, and next year, Tampa Bay hosts the Republican National Convention.
"I'm sure we're going to be a revolving door," said Deborah Cox-Roush, chairwoman of the Hillsborough County Republican Party. "But we are very excited to have Gov. Huntsman here (Saturday). There was a lot of interest."
A major indicator of the importance Huntsman places on Florida is that he established his national campaign headquarters at the Citrus Center in Orlando — not in his home state of Utah.
Huntsman also is making a major effort in South Carolina and New Hampshire. But he's drawn criticism for avoiding the Iowa battlefield, where his views might get him in trouble.
"It would reflect probably the reality that if you're not in favor of ethanol subsidies, if you don't have some sort of geographic advantage … your prospects may be discounted just a little bit," Huntsman said. "I want a level playing field."
A veteran Florida political watcher said the GOP in the state spans the spectrum, from old fashioned Rockefeller Republicans to tea partyers.
And Huntsman has to find a way to appeal to all of them.
"I haven't settled on anybody yet," said Ashley Intartaglia, president of the Tampa Bay Young Republicans, "but I think he's an interesting person in the mix."
Email:hollenhorst@ksl.com
