Jon Huntsman to enter presidential race next week

Former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman will announce his campaign for president June 21 at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, N.J., sources tell multiple news outlets.

NBC notes that Liberty State Park–home to the Statue of Liberty–is the where President Ronald Reagan made his first post-nomination speech during his 1980 White House run. Huntsman worked as a staff assistant in the Reagan White House.

Huntsman served as Utah governor from 2005 to 2009, leaving to become U.S. ambassador to China in the Obama administration. When he left his ambassadorship at the end of April, he immediately touched off widespread speculation that he was preparing a 2012 presidential campaign. He has since taken a series of steps–such as creating a campaign-style website and earlier this month landing financial support–that pointed to a 2012 bid.

Huntsman did not participate in last night’s GOP presidential debate in New Hampshire.

Huntsman’s ties to Obama could potentially prove to be valuable assets in a general election as he tries to woo swing voters. Still, his primary opponents will likely use the connection against him in the GOP primaries.

His relationship with the Democratic president already caused a stir in April when a handwritten note was leaked to the press that showed Huntsman praising Obama.

Following his announcement next week, Huntsman is reportedly planning to travel to New Hampshire and Florida– the large swing state where Huntsman has revealed he may based his campaign— then to his home state of Utah and the early caucus state of Nevada.

Huntsman revealed last week that he does not plan to participate in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus–noting he does not support ethanol and other subsidies that are popular in the agricultural state.

(Photo of Huntsman, center: Elise Amendola/AP)