Franklin, N.H. • With Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels the latest Republican to pass on a presidential run, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said he believes the GOP field is set, and he expects many of Daniels' supporters to fall into his camp.

"They were all kind of hanging in limbo until Mitch made his decision," Huntsman said in an interview Sunday, after a stop at a backyard barbecue at a home along the Merrimack River.

"There are a lot of people who were on the fence, a lot of the finance types and certainly some of the organizers, some of the opinion leaders who were waiting for him to get in or out," Huntsman said. "They said they had to be 50-50 until such time Mitch Daniels makes his decision. If he's out, we'll go with you 100 percent."

Daniels, the popular Indiana governor and former budget director for President George W. Bush, had been contemplating a bid for the GOP nomination, and many in the party were eager for him to run as a fiscal hawk. But Daniels announced early Sunday that his family was not willing to go through the rigors of a presidential race.

His decision has GOP contenders, including Huntsman, seeking to step through the door that Daniels has left open.

In each of his stops in New Hampshire this week, Huntsman has identified the nation's debt as the key issue of the campaign and suggested he is the leader to "re-fire" the engines and help the country grow its way to prosperity.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty called Daniels a friend and said he agrees that "America's out-of-control national debt is a threat to our nation's future."

On CNN's "State of The Union" on Sunday, Dick Armey, Freedomworks chairman and former House majority Leader, suggested that "maybe it's time to start drafting Paul Ryan."

Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman who put forward what has become the Republican's budget proposal, has said he doesn't plan to run.

Huntsman, who has praised Ryan's budget during his campaign stops, said he believes the Republican field is now set for the campaign season.

"I don't know if there's a lot of room or a lot of time for others to enter. I think the field today is what it will be," he said.

Alan Glassman, the chairman of the Belknap County Republican Party, said he had hoped the Republican pool of candidates wouldn't have thinned so much.

"I felt that the larger the field, the greater the opportunity for Republicans to pick the best candidate," he said. "It's going to be a long, hot summer. There's always a chance for someone else to come up and say, 'I just don't feel the other candidates out there are good enough and I'm going to run.' "

Huntsman spent his fourth day campaigning in New Hampshire in a series of events that drew fairly small crowds — just a few dozen at each.

During a stop at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1670 in Laconia, N.H., he shot a game of pool with 83-year-old Tom Michaud.

Michaud was a sharp player and Huntsman lost the game but won a supporter because, Michaud said, he seemed to value the military.

"I think he's got it on the ball," said Michaud. "I'll tell you what, if he runs, he's got my vote."

Huntsman also campaigned in front-runner Mitt Romney's backyard in Wolfeboro, just about a mile from Romney's home on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

There he had an exchange in Chinese with 17-year-old Sherry Mao, who is from Goangxiao, China, and impressed Richard Knapp with his call for civility in the campaign season.

"I am impressed with his humbleness. I am impressed with his human approach," said Knapp, who knew little of Huntsman before the Wolfeboro event.

Wrapping up Sunday night, Huntsman sounded like a candidate who, rather than "kicking the tires" as he has put it, is in the presidential race.

He told the audience at the barbecue that he looks forward to seeing them all again "if we make this trip … and I'm feeling pretty good and pretty confident about that."

Huntsman will be back in New Hampshire in two weeks for another multiday visit, then again two weeks after that for a series of events that includes the Laconia Motorcycle Rally.

gehrke@sltrib.com —

2012 Republican presidential contenders

Some have announced their candidacies; others are exploring bids.

Mitt Romney • Former governor of Massachusetts and head of Utah's 2002 Winter Olympics

Tim Pawlenty • Former governor of Minnesota

Newt Gingrich • Former U.S. speaker of the House

Herman Cain • Former CEO of Godfather's Pizza

Sarah Palin • Former governor of Alaska and vice presidential nominee

Jon Huntsman Jr. • Former governor of Utah

Ron Paul • U.S. representative from Texas

Michelle Bachmann • U.S. representative from Minnesota

Rick Santorum • Former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania

Charles Elson "Buddy" Roemer III • Former governor of Louisiana

John Bolton • Former ambassador to the United Nations

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune