White House jabs GOP diplomat who may run in 2012

[March 07, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House is praising a departing U.S. ambassador for supporting the administration and working closely with President Barack Obama.

Not much news there.

Except the diplomat -- former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman -- is a potential GOP opponent for Obama in 2012. And his ties to a Democratic president might not go over too well with Republican activists who play a large role in selecting the party's nominee.

Huntsman is set to resign at ambassador to China in April.

Obama's chief of staff, William Daley, tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that Huntsman has done an excellent job as ambassador. Daley says Huntsman's closeness in working with Obama is appreciated.

Daley got in a little jab by adding, in his words, "I'm sure he'll talk about that in the primaries."

[Associated Press]

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