Hancock, N.H. • Former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. went on his first date with New Hampshire voters this weekend and suggested that they may be seeing a lot more of him in the future.

Just weeks back from serving an ambassadorship in Beijing, Huntsman held a string of highly publicized and, thus far, well-attended events across the state, making a first impression in the state with a crucial presidential primary.

"I know so little about him. This is my first introduction to his campaign," said Alfred Field, one of about 100 people who jammed into a muggy living room in Keene, N.H., to hear from the potential candidate.

Or, as one man asked during a crowded Hancock gathering: "Who are you?"

The former governor presented himself to potential voters as a businessman and diplomat in an evolving stump speech, and focused heavily on his record as governor of Utah, particularly his energy policy, cutting taxes and reshaping the state's health care system.

"Traipsing in here is a perfectly insane thing to be doing this morning," he said at the gathering in Keene. "It's an intimidating and an intrepid experience."

Huntsman called for America to "refire" its economic engines, which he said could be driven by innovation in the energy sector, and contrasted the economic growth he saw as ambassador to China with the economic struggles of the United States.

"They're giddy with pride and then you take a look and reflect on our mood here in this country, and we're down," he said. "We feel that our hope has been dashed. We feel a little dispirited but for every reason we ought to be seeing the future a little differently because we still happen to be the envy of the world."

For the most part, he avoided being pinned down on specific issues: He said many options need to be considered for reforming Social Security and responded to an inquiry about his position on climate change with a sentiment "we all want a greener tomorrow."

Speaking to reporters in Hancock, Huntsman, who has been branded a moderate in the GOP field, said he wants to escape easy generalizations. "We've just got to get beyond this [labeling]," he said. "I think that's artificial; I think that's superficial."

Several dozen reporters and television cameras trailed the governor throughout the day, looking to get a feel for the new kid in the race. At the Hancock gathering, there appeared to be nearly as many reporters as attendees, doubling the crowd of 40 that host Bobbie Coffin said she had prepared for.

"It's safe to say he's completely unknown here, except among hard-core political observers and activists," said Fergus Cullen, a former New Hampshire Republican Party chairman.

"That being said, I think there's a market for him. There's always room for a fresh face. And all the candidates have been campaigning at a very small segment of the Republican base, the new activists, the tea party activists," Cullen said. Huntsman can focus on the mainstream New Hampshire GOP, which he estimates makes up 80 percent of the party.

Cullen said Huntsman's organizers also were smart in planning Huntsman's first trip to the Granite State, shuttling him from one town to the next, doing small, retail-politics events over several days, rather than a quick in-and-out visit.

During the afternoon, he met privately with Joseph McQuade, the influential publisher of the New Hampshire Union-Leader, recorded an interview with a local radio station and met with state Republican Party Chairman Jack Kimball.

Afterward, he spoke with veterans at VFW Post 1631 in Concord, suggesting that the United States may have overextended its military reach and expressing his opposition to involvement in Libya.

Georgia Palmieri, who splits time between New York and New Hampshire, said she has followed Huntsman's father, the billionaire chemical company magnate and philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. She said she favors radio show host Herman Cain but is keeping an open mind.

"It's not anybody's turn for the nomination," she said, in reference to the Republican tradition of nominating the presidential contender who finished second for the nomination four years before — in this case, Mitt Romney. "I want to watch his body language."

Palmieri said she is concerned about Huntsman's support, as governor, for a regional cap-and-trade policy aimed at limiting greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, but she didn't object to him serving as President Barack Obama's ambassador.

Neither did Marilyn Soper, head of the Keene Historical Society, who compared it to her two sons in the Navy serving the commander in chief.

"I like the fact that somebody is moving beyond the partisanship to represent the office," Soper said. "I think we've gotten entirely too polarized, and I say that as a conservative Republican."

Huntsman appears serious about his presidential ambition, suggesting in stops on Friday that he plans to return to New Hampshire and spend time in other primary states this summer, as well.

"As for what we're doing, our little family … we're visiting a few of the early states, the organizing states and having some good conversations and through it all we're probably going to find ourselves in June and make a decision from there," he said. "I'm feeling pretty good where we are today, but we've got more work to do." —

Huntsman makes "Good Morning America" appearance

In an interview with "Good Morning America," former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he embraced his Mormonism, opposed President Barack Obama's intervention in Libya, would repeal the president's health care reform.

On Libya • "I would have chosen from the beginning not to intervene in Libya. I would say that is not core to our national security interest."

On Obama's health care overhaul • "If I had a chance to repeal it, I would. But then you have to say what goes in its place, and I think the answer to that is look at what all the states are doing."

On his Mormon faith • "I believe in God. I'm a good Christian. I'm very proud of my Mormon heritage. I am Mormon. Today, there are 13 million Mormons. It's a very diverse and heterogeneous cross section of people. And you're going to find a lot of different attitudes and a lot of different opinions in that 13 million.… And I probably add to that diversity somewhat."