Romney and Huntsman: Separated at Birth?

One's a handsome 50-something former governor with a large, attractive Mormon family, moderate conservative views, and a pesky connection to the Obama administration to combat.

The other's a handsome 60-something former governor with a large, attractive Mormon family, moderate conservative views, and a pesky connection to the Obama administration to combat.

And both are running for president.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman are candidates in a growing field of contenders for the 2012 GOP nomination, but they may have more of a challenge convincing voters they aren't political twins separated at birth than edging out other hopefuls with their campaign platforms and promises.

Huntsman's profile reads like that of the quintessential American politician. Born in 1960, Huntsman was a boy scout who grew up to serve as an Asian affairs emissary for the Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 administrations. He became the governor of Utah in 2005, an office to which he was reelected in a landslide before resigning in August, 2009 to accept an appointment as Ambassador to China for President Obama.

It's that last title that may be a sticking point for Huntsman to overcome in the minds of Republican voters. Huntsman said in his candidacy announcement Tuesday morning that he respects Obama and hopes to lead a civil opposing campaign.

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