Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) repeatedly told members of the Obama administration that he was not laying the groundwork to run for president while serving as ambassador to China, according to “Double Down,” a new book and sequel to the popular “Game Change” written by Mark Halperin and John Heilmann.
Details of the book were released by The New York Times on Thursday.
Huntsman, per Heilmann and Halperin, was simultaneously assuring White House officials that he was not planning to leave his post as ambassador to run for president while, at the same time, meeting with campaign strategists.
Huntsman’s wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, meanwhile, was exchanging emails with one of Huntsman’s future presidential consultants but would only refer to the former governor as “HE” as a precaution, according to the book.
Huntsman would eventually leave the White House to run for president but his campaign never gained momentum and he eventually dropped out.
