Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Jon Huntsman on New Hampshire Chances

Details

  • Description

    Republican presidential candidate on 'Fox News Sunday'

  • Duration 12:41
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Latest News

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

And how -- again from Fox News in Washington.

Well we are finally entering the home -- in the run up to real people casting real votes in the Republican presidential -- Continuing our 28121 on one series of interviews.

We're joined now by former -- talk governor Jon Huntsman who comes dress from white field New Hampshire a state where he's been spending a lot of time and governor.

Welcome to FOX News Sunday.

Chris it's an honor to be with you welcome from -- county New Hampshire.

There you go let's start governor we can with a -- looking for is -- satellite.

You're still trailing the field all the way back as you can see there at 2% in last place but it in New Hampshire you're starting to make -- and fourth place at 9%.

Though you are still according to this fall of -- far behind Mitt Romney.

You say that that defeat is not an option in new Hampshire -- you've held.

More than a hundred events in that state don't I have to win there.

Well we have to beat market expectations and we have a message that will allow us to beat market expectations Chris.

People here want to talk about our economic deficit and they want to talk about our trust deficit.

Yesterday we had to town hall meetings here in the western far reaches of the state today we'll have three town hall meetings.

Pre season is over and -- now in the final stretch I like our position I like where we stand in the poll.

More importantly the people of this great state they love an underdog.

And I am an underdog right now and if you can be an underdog and have a message that begins to connect with people on the ground.

You can make things happen Ed do I believe we're gonna beat market expectations in New Hampshire I absolutely believe we will.

And that will translate down market to South Carolina.

And then ultimately to Florida so I like our position here Chris well you talk about -- -- can expectations.

Perhaps.

The Huntsman stock took a hit today because the New Hampshire.

Union leader.

Perhaps -- the most influential the biggest newspaper.

In the state of New Hampshire has this morning endorse Newt Gingrich is not a setback for you -- Well no I you know it it once again proves Chris how fluid and unpredictable.

New Hampshire is.

People are just beginning to pay attention and coalesce around the candidates.

I think more than anything else any.

A month ago.

For Newt Gingrich to have been in the running to capture the the Manchester union leader endorsement would have been unthinkable.

So I think it reflects more than anything else the fluidity the unpredictability the race right now.

But if you're talking about stocks I like the free market you know I just kept -- for -- -- -- -- where we've gone from the back of the pack to number three.

Which I think they do a pretty good job forecasting -- the future trends are going to be in this race so we're -- a solid position here in New Hampshire but you've got to have a message that resonates with the voters here.

We have a message that resonates we have -- background that people look at it's a background that speaks to job creation and the ability to expand our economy and a background that speaks to addressing the trust deficit as well.

Let let let's talk about message and and we're gonna get -- a specific -- a moment but your record let's talk about big picture -- record as governor.

Of -- was not a day strong conservative but but your strategy in this race.

Has been to run and I I put this kind of -- quote as a relative.

Moderate.

You're the one who was saying that we need to pull.

Not all but most of our troops out of Afghanistan sooner than anybody else on that stage except for Ron Paul.

You're the one has been tweaking the other candidates saying that you believe in science issues like global warming and evolution.

When the Republican Party.

Is moving and I figured it clearly -- to the right.

Perhaps fueled by the Tea Party doesn't make practical political sense to position yourself as the most centrist candidate in the rise.

Listen I'm not positioning myself.

At all I'm simply drawing upon where I have been as a leader.

I'm not in can -- myself into a pretzel and become something that I am not I have an established record as governor of the state -- -- -- I have a record for my service overseas when people look at my record as governor.

They're gonna find what may surprise some some people when they Begin to reflect on it I am pro life and I always happen.

I'm pro Second Amendment and I always happen.

I am pro growth I deliver the largest tax cut in the history of that state we delivered -- Health Care Reform without a mandate.

I -- the second voucher for education in this entire country.

So when people Begin to look at my record they may have discounted us early on Chris.

You know when I work for this administration as US ambassador to China some people may have you know -- -- as to the back of the pack but others saying I get the part about this Huntsman guy who puts country first.

I think we can relate to that.

And then further reflection on my record I think it's no surprise there for the people are giving us maybe a first look finally.

And as they look at our record to say look at our track record of service and my years as as governor.

They got to come to the conclusion that I look and I've got a conservative record on the issues that are absolutely applicable to this country.

And where we need -- -- let's talk about some of the issues Newt Gingrich a lot of people thought.

Got into trouble this week when he said that he would support legal status for some long time illegals in this country Rick Perry gotten a trouble a few weeks ago.

For saying that he supported in his state to wish and for the children of illegals.

In fact do you support both those positions don't -- Well I I support first and foremost securing the border.

I don't think this discussion has any credibility or intellectual honesty at all until we can actually -- wet wave pushed out of the tournament record -- Records are records and the fact is that you are long on record supporting the idea which was the fact -- and Utah of in state tuition.

Four children of the -- That's right.

That's right.

That was supported by the people of my state it was supported by the legislature and I supported it as well.

I'm not running from that at all -- I'm saying is you know we've got to be honest about the first step that this country needs to take it's -- relates to illegal immigration and that is to secure the border.

And I would work with -- four border state governors and ensuring that between fencing and technology and boots on the ground we can get the job done.

It's completely doable and once that is established and once we build a little credibility with the people of this country.

We can then move on.

In addressing the needs the reality of eleven or twelve million people who -- living in the shadows in this country all right let's let's turn.

-- -- -- budget issues in the wake of the failure of the super committee.

You now say that the roadmap opted to debt reduction is the Bowles Simpson commission which have a a four trillion dollar facts over the course of the next decade.

Let me ask about one aspect of that because the Bowles Simpson commission called for one trillion dollars.

In increased tax revenue they were gonna they said let's lower all the rights as -- was 28% as the top right but let's also eliminate.

Almost all of a deductions and loopholes and they -- gonna take a trillion.

Dollars or rather a hundred billion dollars a year for ten years one trillion in total and use that as added tax revenue to try to shrink the deficit.

Would you support that part of -- Well might might might might plan is not Simpson -- I took -- tax reform measure which I thought was a good one.

But my plan for debt and spending is the Ryan plan I'm the only candidate in the race is actually embraced in total the Ryan plan.

I think the super committee is a joke for the simple reason that they're targeting one point five trillion dollars over ten years.

Two and a half percent average total spending over ten years.

I mean that's not even.

A serious attempt at all I think what Ryan is talking about with six point to a trillion dollars cut out of the budget over ten years is exactly where this country needs to be.

We've got to get down to 19% spending as a percentage of GDP to get anywhere near -- sustainable level.

So the Simpson Bowles report I thought represented a pretty good body of work I don't agree with that with a tax increase portion.

I've looked at their tax reform.

Proposal which I've taken and I combined it was some of what I did I delivered about -- taxes but governor.

But the governor from Diana and I I picked in Iraq but we just limited time.

And their tax reform proposal Yassin called for lower rates but it also called for taking some of the eliminated deductions what they call tax expenditures and using that.

You're you're the that sort of the truth teller or hurt you.

Position yourself -- -- on the states and but at some of your candidates on the arrivals are engaging in political theater isn't a political theater to site I want a solution.

Particularly -- just given the political realities in this country that has no tax revenue increase.

Well what I'm calling for on tax reform Chris is -- phasing out of all the loopholes and deductions.

On the individual income tax side.

And the phasing out of all the corporate welfare and subsidies on the corporate side.

Which allows us to lower the rate broaden the base and to simplify it which is exactly what I did -- -- I'm -- -- -- not what -- -- there.

It would it would be a revenue neutral exercise absolutely I think raising the revenue.

Which some people might be against -- and they're reinvesting it into the tax code which would lower the rate.

Both on the individual side and on the corporate side is exactly what this country need I wanna trying to -- tax reform and a meaningful way since 1986 and it's high time we get busy doing it -- I -- we've got three minutes left and wanna get to two -- is would your first of all.

Foreign policy which obviously is one of your strong suits the Pakistani military says that.

That NATO airstrikes hit two border checkpoints this weekend.

Killing at least 24 of their soldiers in response -- what are the US to shut down.

One air base.

-- -- drone operations that a key -- and they've closed the two main supply.

Routes into Afghanistan would supply about 40%.

-- -- equipment and supplies.

What would present -- Huntsman doing this new very serious situation with Pakistan.

Well first of all offer.

Condolences on those losses of the 25 Pakistani soldiers.

Second of all I would recognize exactly what US Pakistani relationship has become which is merely a transactional relationship.

I would figure out what the contours of the relationship really are and what we can expect from the Pakistani government.

Realizing full well that the politics playing out domestically in Pakistan are very complicated.

Between the Islamist side between the government between the military between the ISI.

And I think our expectations have to be very very low in terms of what we can get out of the relationship I think we thought we could get more and we've been proven wrong time and time again.

And then I would tie whatever aid money we are given to Pakistan if they deserve any at all.

To access to a drone base keeping the supply lines open working rigorously with us on counterterrorism right and if that.

At that isn't going to work I'm gonna look for new partner the region because we do have an interest in Southwest Asia.

And that is I counter terror effort a robust counter terror for we need to be collecting intelligence we need to -- -- special forces capability.

And knock them down where they stand up this is clearly in America's interest to do it right.

Governor finally a political group called Americans -- -- is bound and determined to put a third candidate on the ballot in the 2012 election.

Have you talked to any member of that organization.

I haven't -- any member of the organization.

I am a Republican I'm running as a Republican and I fully -- to to be running as a republic that well you have been very critical of president Obama's policies and you've been very.

Critical of Mitt Romney is what you call flats on issues.

Not to say that there's -- going to be that's going to be the rays.

But.

The question is can you flatly -- Right now and some say this is the game we play but can you flatly say right now that you will support the Republican nominee and that you will not run as an independent.

Well I'm running as a Republican and that's -- -- today that's where I've always been and that's where I fully expect to be during this -- just just to play the game one last time.

I'm running as a Republican is not a denials -- Can you flatly -- you're gonna you're gonna risk the risk I and I.

I have running as a Republican and I will support the Republican nominee.

I've stated that before and I'll stated again for you.

Thank you governor -- -- we're gonna leave it there thank you so much for coming and in talking with us on this holiday weekends are safe travels on the campaign for.

Thank you Chris I appreciate that up next.

Load More