Washington • If Jon Huntsman Jr. formally launches a presidential bid, he won't headquarter his campaign in Utah, where he was once governor, or Washington, D.C., where he now lives.

His political team is preparing to build its base in Orlando, The Salt Lake Tribune has learned.

The thinking is that early primary states tend to be on the East Coast and Florida is one of the biggest of the bunch. Also, Huntsman's wife, Mary Kaye Huntsman, grew up in Orlando and still has relatives in the area. Her family didn't move to Salt Lake City until she was 14 years old.

Huntsman's political action committee also named Nikki Jerger Lowrey, who previously worked for former Gov. Jeb Bush, as its director in Florida. In a statement, she said: "I believe we have a unique opportunity with Governor Huntsman — a fresh face with a strong record of conservative governance and job creation in Utah. The country needs a proven leader and a trusted statesman; in Jon Huntsman, we have both. I will be honored to be a part of his team in my home state of Florida should he run."

It is not unheard of for presidential candidates to base their campaigns in states where they have only tangential ties.

Former Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., moved his family to Iowa as he sought the Democratic nomination in 2008.

But most of the major candidates are staying where they have deep roots.

President Barack Obama has launched his re-election bid in Chicago. Republican Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, has headquartered his presidential bid in Boston, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has decided to launch his bid for the GOP nomination in Minneapolis.

mcanham@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mattcanham