Obama's endless love for Huntsman

Jon Huntsman can’t catch a break.


President Barack Obama continues to suffocate his outgoing Ambassador to China with unhelpful and probably unwelcome praise.

At the ceremony announcing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as Huntsman’s replacement Wednesday, the president called his current subordinate and soon-to-be Republican foe an “outstanding advocate” and added that he’s “very grateful” for the two years of service to his administration.

Huntsman’s biggest problem going into the primary season is his closeness to the Democratic president. The White House has made a sport of thanking Huntsman for his service, even as they privately bristle at the steps his supporters are taking toward a run even as he remains on the federal payroll.

“The things he did on behalf of this administration and the closeness in which he worked with the president, is much appreciated,” Chief of Staff Bill Daley said on “Meet the Press” last weekend. “And I’m sure he’ll talk about that in the primaries.”

Wednesday wasn’t the first time Obama’s praised Huntsman, who himself has been careful not to praise Obama too much on the record.

“I couldn’t be happier with the ambassador’s service,” Obama said in January. “I’m sure that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary.”