(Winslow Townson/AP)Coming off a series of well-reviewed debate performances, Jon Huntsman's poll numbers are finally inching up in New Hampshire, a state that will make or break his Republican nomination bid.
But Huntsman desperately needs to see movement in his national poll numbers in coming days—or he could potentially miss two upcoming presidential debates, forums that could provide the exposure he needs to keep his 2012 dream alive.
(Update: Huntsman will qualify for a Fox News Iowa debate set for Dec. 15, according to a network spokeswoman.)
A Rasmussen Reports poll of likely GOP voters in New Hampshire found Huntsman with 11 percent support in the state—the best number he's posted there since he launched his 2012 campaign. Yet the number is still somewhat disappointing for Huntsman, considering he's focused his entire campaign on the Granite State this fall.
According to the poll, Mitt Romney still has a significant lead in the state, with 34 percent support, followed by Newt Gingrich (24 percent) and Ron Paul (14 percent). Still, Rasmussen found just 42 percent of likely Republican voters in the state are absolutely sure who they will vote for in January, suggesting the race is still extremely fluid.
But it's national poll numbers that could have the greatest impact on Huntsman's campaign in coming days. To qualify for the Dec. 10 GOP debate in Des Moines sponsored by ABC News, Yahoo, the Des Moines Register, WOI-TV and the Republican Party of Iowa, candidates must poll at 5 percent or greater in either national polls or the Register's Iowa Poll.
But the highest number Huntsman has reached in national polling was 4 percent in a Fox News poll released in late September. There is expected to be similar qualifying criteria for a Dec. 15 debate in Sioux City sponsored by Fox News, the Washington Examiner and the Iowa GOP. (Update: According to network guidelines released by Fox News this afternoon, candidates must poll at 1 percent in at least five recent national polls to participate in the debate--a requirement Huntsman meets.)
While Huntsman is not competing in Iowa, the debates are a closely watched affair in New Hampshire and other key primary states. Another good performance could give him the momentum he needs to have a good showing in the Granite State.
While a bad showing in New Hampshire could potentially kill Huntsman's bid for the GOP nomination, it might not necessarily kill his White House aspirations. Twice in the last 24 hours, Huntsman has seemed to leave the door open to an independent White House bid.
Asked by the Boston Globe's Glen Johnson whether he sees "any situation" in which he would mount an independent bid, Huntsman replied, "I don't think so."
When it was pointed out his answer wasn't exactly a flat denial, Huntsman again didn't exactly rule it out, instead saying he had no plans to run as anything other than a Republican candidate.
Want more of our best political stories? Visit The Ticket or connect with us on Facebook and follow us
