Huntsman Gears Up for 2012 Run With New Hires

The political action committee of Ambassador to China and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman hired two prominent Republican strategists in New Hampshire as it gears up for a potential run for the GOP presidential nomination, the Union Leader reported Tuesday.

Hunt’s Horizon PAC has brought on Paul Collins, a nearly 30-year political campaign organizer and former congressional and U.S. Senate chief of staff, and Brad Blais, who helped U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass’ 2010 campaign, as consultants.

They’re set to organize the PACs political operation in the state that has the first primary in the country.

Huntsman is a social moderate and fiscal conservative who resigned as President Barack Obama’s Ambassador to China effective April 30. He’s expected to jump into the race for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination with the hope of running against his former boss.

Until his resignation takes effect, Huntsman cannot campaign or engage in political activities. The Horizon PAC was set up by national Huntsman supporters as a so-called "campaign-in-waiting" for Huntsman.