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SALT LAKE CITY -- Just because Jon Huntsman has dropped out of the presidential race doesn't mean he's finished with politics. Speculation abounds Tuesday morning about what his political future may hold.
Multiple blogs suggest Huntsman may be looking for some kind of Cabinet position. Some speculate that's why he abandoned the presidential race now.
A blog in the Washington Post states that while Huntsman was taking on front-runner Mitt Romney, "he acted like he was campaigning for a Cabinet position."
Others question whether Huntsman would consider seeking something closer to Utah, such as Sen. Orrin Hatch's seat.
A Politico blog notes that Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert is taking credit for Huntsman's withdrawal from the race. Colbert said on his show Monday night that he thinks Huntsman dropped his presidential bid when Colbert "explored the idea" of running for president.
"Folks, do you see what's happened here? The mere possibility that I might run for president blew Jon Huntsman all the way back to the Land's End catalog he came from," Colbert said.
A Public Policy Polling survey last week showed Colbert polling ahead of Huntsman in South Carolina, 5 percent to 4 percent. Previously, Kirk Jowers with the Hinckley Institute of Politics said Huntsman doesn't want to be the butt of jokes going forward.
Huntsman's supporters dismiss the idea a cable TV comic newsman had anything to do with Huntsman's withdrawing from the race. His national finance chairman, Jeff Wright, told the Deseret News the decision for Huntsman to drop out "came from his gut." "He's a realist," Wright said.
