Jon Huntsman

Background

Born March 26, 1960, in Palo Alto, Calif. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1987. He has been the U.S. ambassador to China since 2009. Previously, he was governor of Utah from 2004-09, deputy U.S. trade ambassador from 2001-03, ambassador to Singapore from 1992-93, deputy assistant secretary of commerce for East Asia and the Pacific from 1990-91, deputy assistant secretary of commerce, Trade Development Bureau, from 1989-1990. He is married with seven children.

Issues

He was the only GOP candidate to endorse the deal that averted a default on U.S. debt payments. He supports ending corporate subsidies, cutting regulations, lowering taxes and spurring jobs through energy development. He supports same-sex civil unions, with many of the rights of marriage, and says states should decide their own policies. He wants to "let the states experiment" on health care and contends the federal government should "absolutely not" require anyone to have health insurance. He believes it is unrealistic to deport all illegal immigrants. He is open to raising the Social Security retirement age to qualify for full benefits and to restricting benefits for the wealthy. He favors lower income tax rates coupled with the elimination of deductions and loopholes. He would cut the corporate tax to 25 percent from a maximum 35 percent, and phase out all subsidies. He opposed U.S. military intervention in Libya absent congressional approval and believes no more than 15,000 U.S. troops should be left in Afghanistan.