From China to New Hampshire

Jon Huntsman, U.S. President Barrack Obama's first ambassador to China, who left that post just a few weeks ago, has begun testing the waters for a run against his former boss, as expected. Politico and others report that Huntsman, a popular Republican former governor of Utah, is about to go on a five-day campaign trip through New Hampshire.

Though he became somewhat infamous in China during his two-year tenure here, Huntsman is virtually unknown in the early US primary election state. The National Journal quoted a statewide opinion poll saying that only 1 percent of residents would vote for Huntsman and 71 percent had never heard of him.

Things could change quickly, however, with GOP candidates dropping like flies in recent days. Back in China, outgoing U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke is on deck to replace Huntsman as ambassador.