(Image Source: New York Times)

 

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

It’s being called “Hunts-mentem.” GOP candidate Jon Hunstman is finding his stride in the Granite State. After riding the polls at a mere one percent, his popularity is finally on the rise.

NBC’s Ron Allen tells MSNBC...

“The other story here is Hunstman. The polls have him up. If he breaks 20 percent that’s a big deal. He’s staked everything on New Hampshire. He’s been showing some strength here and frankly in New Hampshire, most people you talk to say, he sounds like the sensible, level-headed candidate in the field where that’s just too far right.”

According to Politico’s Juana Summers, New Hampshire is Huntsman’s time to shine. But with Romney nearly 20 percent ahead in the polls, a win may be far-fetched.

“ ... Huntsman’s the one candidate riding what counts as New Hampshire’s version of momentum. No one, not even the former Utah governor himself, expects he’ll win the first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday. But if Huntsman can finish strong, and claim second place or a strong third, there’s at least some justification for him to take his campaign to South Carolina ...”

CNN’s Jim Acosta and Wolf Blitzer agree tonight’s results may weigh in Huntsman’s favor.  

ACOSTA: “A big surge of moderate and independent voters could give John Hunstman the strong showing he’s looking for Wolf.”
BLITZER: “He really wants a strong second place showing. In order to show he’s viable, he’s going to have to beat Ron Paul for that.”

And according to Morning Joe’s Mike Barnacle, a win tonight could propel Hunstman a little further on the campaign trail.

“Say Huntsman finishes second. Depending on his statement tonight, you know, finishing second. We really won. He could provide Romney with a real tilt down the road.”

But not everyone’s on board. The Atlantic Wire’s Alexander Abod-Santos suggests Huntsman will see the road end in New Hampshire. He writes...

“If you needed any more confirmation that Jon Huntsman doesn't stand a chance in South Carolina, the latest Public Policy Polling numbers show him four percentage points behind Stephen Colbert.”

But even if Huntsman is forced to exit in the next few months, his political career may not be over. The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus writes ...

“Huntsman is worth paying attention to for two reasons. First is his newly assertive edginess toward the front-runner. Huntsman and Romney clearly can’t stand each other — and it’s increasingly, deliciously showing ... The second reason for paying attention is that Huntsman doesn’t seem inclined to go away; for him, 2012 seems like a trial run for a more credible future campaign.”

Stay with Newsy throughout the night for updates on tonight’s primary results.