Jon Huntsman: I'm Skipping Iowa

Jon Huntsman won't be taking his toys to the sandbox in Iowa: The possible presidential candidate says that he's definitely not going to compete in the Hawkeye State, reports ABC News. “I'm not competing in Iowa for a reason. I don't believe in subsidies that prop up corn, soybeans, and ethanol," Huntsman told a crowd in New Hampshire last night. "I think they destroy the global marketplace. We probably won't be spending a whole lot of time in Iowa. I guess I understand how the politics work there."

Huntsman says he'll compete "vigorously" in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida. Meanwhile, GOP rival Tim Pawlenty is also not a fan of ethanol, notes ABC, but is giving Iowa a go nonetheless. Preaching tough love, Pawlenty told an event last night that "even for people in Iowa there’s some real truths we’re going to have to tell. That means we’re going to have to phase out the ethanol subsidies." (More Jon Huntsman stories.)