COY

China Ambassador Winks at 2012 Run

Obama appointed Jon Huntsman in 2009.

Barack Obama’s attempt to banish Jon Huntsman may not have worked. In an interview with Newsweek, the ambassador to China declined to comment when asked about ruling out a 2012 run for the presidency. Huntsman, the former governor of Utah, did say that he won't be doing this job forever and that he and his team have a "final run left in our bones." Sources close to Huntsman say that in December, he even met with political advisers in Washington and in Salt Lake City to discuss a potential 2012 run. In 2009, Obama’s campaign chief David Axelrod revealed that Huntsman was one Republican politician who made him “a wee bit queasy” about his boss’ prospects. Obama then appointed Huntsman to the China post.