Former China Ambassador and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman took to the national airwaves over the weekend to offer critical assessments of those candidates currently considered GOP frontrunners for the 2012 nomination.

“Right now this country is crying out for a sensible middle ground — this is a center-right country, [and] I am a center-right candidate. Right now we’ve got people on the fringes,” Huntsman said during an appearance with ABC News.

“President Obama is too far to the left. We’ve got people on the Republican side who are too far to the right, and we have zero substance. We have no good ideas that are being circulated or talked about that will allow this country to get back on its feet economically so that we can begin creating jobs.”

And that was only his opening gambit.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was characterized by Huntsman as a flip-flopper.

“I know, in 1986, he was against a flat tax,” Huntsman said as part of a conversation about the economic policies he enacted while governor of Utah. “If we were to talk about his inconsistencies and changes on various issues, we’d be here all afternoon.”

Texas Gov. Rick Perry‘s continued denial of evolution and global warming creates “a serious problem” for the GOP, Huntsman indicated while building on an earlier Twitter exchange that earned him some kudos from more moderate sects of the Republican Party.

“The minute the Republican Party becomes the anti-science party, we have a huge problem; we lose a whole lot of people wh would otherwise allow us to win the election of 2012,” Huntsman said. “When we take a position that isn’t willing to embrace evolution; when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 out of 100 climate scientists have said [and] what the National Academy of Sciences has said about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science and, therefore, in a losing position.”

When confronted with national polls indicating that 52 percent of Republican voters believe in strict creationism and only 31 percent believe global warming is occurring, Huntsman would not confirm that he was out-of-step with his own political party, but did say that Republicans need to be “rational” and listen to what the majority of the scientific community is saying.

“I’m here to tell you that for us to be successful as a party, we need to be one that respects science, not one that runs from science,” he added.

Huntsman also took a swipe at Perry for the Texan’s earlier remark about Ben Bernanke, chief of the Federal Reserve, being “almost treasonous” for printing more money between now and November 2012.

“I’m not sure if that is pre-secession Texas or post-secession Texas,” Huntsman began, drawing in earlier Perry comments regarding Texas separating from the union. “I’m not sure the average voter out there is going to hear that treasonous remark and think, ‘That sounds like a presidential candidate, that sounds like someone who is serious on the issues.’ … This perpetuates the name-calling and the finger-pointing and the blame-game when we want solutions, we want to look to the future and have somebody with vision.”

The GOP, he said, needs to win back the Reagan Democrats and the disaffected independents.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann‘s claim that, if elected president, the nation would realize gasoline costs once again below $2 per gallon was classified as unrealistic by Huntsman.

“I just don’t know what world that comment would come from,” Huntsman said. “We live in the real world, it is grounded in reality, and gas prices just aren’t going to rebound like that. … [She's] talking about things that may pander to a particular group, or may sound good at the time, but simply is not founded in reality.”

In addition, when dealing with the U.S. economy, Huntsman said he “wouldn’t necessarily trust of any of my opponents right now, who were on a recent debate stage with me [because] every single one of them would have allowed this country to default.”

“There was zero leadership on display in terms of my opponents, zero leadership on display in terms of the President, who should have used the bully pulpit well ahead of time, he should have walked away from the teleprompter — the people want you to speak from your heart and soul, tell us where you want us to go, tell us what you expect from Congress, tell us what’s on your mind — that never happened and it waited until the 11th hour. And then we had some of my Republican opponents, I think, who basically recommended something that would have been catastrophic for this economy.”

When asked specifically about the portion of the Ames GOP debate in which all Republicans on stage, including Huntsman, raised their hands to indicate they would not accept a deal that saw $1 of revenue increases for every $10 in spending cuts — a 10-to-1 deal — Huntsman said, “It was a nonsense question,” and indicated that such an important issue shouldn’t have been brought up in a debate with a simple show of hands.

“I don’t think tax increases are good for this country right now,” Huntsman added. “In fact, I believe they are the worst thing we can do.”

He wouldn’t say that he was sorry he raised his hand in response to the question, only that he was sorry there wasn’t additional discussion about the U.S. tax policy.

The interview is embedded below:

AMES, Iowa — Tensions reached their apex Thursday night during the Fox News/Washington Examiner GOP presidential debate, sending Republican enthusiasm through the roof with less than 48 hours until the Ames Straw Poll gates open Saturday.

Debate topics were typical: conflict in the Middle East, American’s floundering economy, immigration, states’ rights, and of course, hot button social issues. Not to be missed were references to dog food and Mickey Mouse.

Atypical? How candidates came out swinging — at each other, at President Barack Obama and even at the debate moderators.

Twice, Rep. Michele Bachmann, a Straw Poll favorite and tea party darling, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty traded heated words about the other’s political records and policies.

Poised and never appearing flustered, Bachmann deflected attack after attack fired by Pawlenty, including her compromise on raising Minnesota’s state tax on cigarettes in 2005. Pawlenty was then governor, Bachmann, a state lawmaker.

Bachmann explained she initially opposed the tax, but later compromised upon learning of a provision in the same legislation that gave strong support to the anti-abortion community and platform.

“You can get money wrong, but you can’t get life wrong,” she said in the debate.

Pawlenty, who has been slow to gain momentum in the Hawkeye State, came back swinging, claiming the congresswoman’s D.C. record was void of anything substantial.

“As to her record: she’s done wonderful things in her life, absolutely wonderful things, but it’s an undisputed fact that her record in Congress in nonexistent,” Pawlenty said. “She’s got a record of misstating and making false statements.”

“You’re killing us,” Pawlenty told Bachmann, drawing audible reaction from the audience.

The congresswoman remained on point, countering the governor by comparing his own record to Obama’s, stating: “You said the era of small business is over. That sounds a lot like Barack Obama if you ask me.”

Within the first hour of the debate, Bachmann and Pawlenty’s volleys almost overshadowed the other six candidates. Forty-five minutes passed in the debate with only a couple minutes from former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Catholic Conservative from Pennsylvania. Finally, in the second hour, a frustrated Santorum called Fox News moderator Bret Baier out for not giving him the same face time as Bachmann and Pawlenty, raising his hand and declaring, “I haven’t gotten to say a lot.”

Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) sparred over American intervention in Iran, with the long-time congressman blaming the U.S. for hostilities in Iran.

“Anyone who says Iran is not a threat is not seeing clearly,” Santorum said.

The former senator also had his chance to stand out late in the debate, when he gave an impassioned argument on why the debt ceiling had to be raised — a stance the other candidates, particularly Bachmann, have taken vehemently against. Santorum maintained while it had to be raised, it should have been done so with a balanced budget in place.

Prominent Atlanta businessman Herman Cain seemed to spend a significant amount of his face time clarifying past comments and telling America that it “needs to learn to take a joke.” However, Cain also touted his private sector experience in repairing the economy.

“It is imperative we get this economy going in the in next 90 days,” after the next president is inaugurated, he said. One of the foundations to that is making tax rates permanent and setting a maximum tax rate for corporations.

Frontrunner Mitt Romney, who earlier in the day incited political fireworks at the Iowa State Fair, stuck to oft-heard phrases on his campaign stops.

But when asked about the bipartisan legislation that raised the debt ceiling, Romney bluntly said, “I’m not going to eat Barack Obama’s dog food. What he served up is not what I would have done as president of the United States.”

Fellow candidate Newt Gingrich, who served as U.S. House Speaker in the 1990′s, was even more blunt, calling the super-committee borne from the debt ceiling drama “dumb,” and characterized debate moderator Chris Wallace’s questions as “playing Mickey Mouse games.”

Obama was the target of several political missals from the candidates, who admonished the president’s economic and fiscal policies, as well as his military strategies overseas.

New to the candidate stage was former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. Though previously pledging to skip Iowa during his campaign, Huntsman, who was also Ambassador to China under the Obama administration, visited the Iowa State Fair before the debate.

Huntsman stood out from the other seven participants on stage: the practicing Mormon believes “in traditional marriage first, but also civil unions. Our country can do better when it comes to equality,” and added the issue of marriage should go to the states. Most of the other candidates who spoke on the issue, with the exception of Paul, support a federal amendment defining marriage between one-man-one-woman exclusively.

Huntsman also has not publicly presented an economic development plan. However, he stated Thursday he would repeat the policies implemented in his native Utah.

“I’m going to do exactly what I did as governor. It’s called leadership,” he said. “We cut taxes historically and created the most business-friendly environment in the country.”

And to those who are still flirting with a 2012 bid? Bring it on, candidates said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry — expected to join the fray this weekend — and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have not officially declared candidacy, but should they choose to, their would-be opponents are ready to welcome them to the field.

Photo: MPR Polinaut

Gov. Tim Pawlenty is no longer swimming at the deep end with the Republican Party’s top 10 ‘influencers,” says The Fix. But he had another visit from the person in the fish suit during his radio show today — a sure sign it’s time to declare a winner in last week’s caption contest.

The Washington Post blog The Fix posts a monthly ranking of top Republicans, but Minnesota’s governor — a fixture on the list — wasn’t named this month.

Pawlenty and Rush Limbaugh fell off the chart in favor of Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele and Utah Gov. John Huntsman.

Pawlenty may have hurt his chances by not following The Fix blogger Chris Cillizza’s instructions last month to hurry up and decide whether he’s running for re-election or president. 

Maybe the sauciness of his quips to the media tomorrow during his 3 a.m. fishing expedition on White Bear Lake will give some indication of his plans.

At last year’s fishing opener, his bawdy wisecrack about not having sex with his wife caused ripples of speculation about how such talk would affect his chances to become Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential pick.  

And speaking of White Bear Lake and fish and making decisions, here’s a winner in last week’s caption contest. (The photo was from Pawlenty’s appearance at the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce.)  

Photo: Tom Scheck, MPR Polinaut

While philosophically opposed to the Obama Administration’s TARP bailout, Gov. Pawlenty could not say no to the recently announced CARP stimulus package.

A box of MnIndy-brand fish sticks goes out to reader Bob Moffitt for that one. Thanks to all who submitted captions – they were funny.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” today, McCain expressed “admiration” for his 2008 vice presidential pick but listed Pawlenty when host David Gregory asked him about future Republican presidential prospects.

GREGORY: In terms of future leaders of the Republican party, would you like to see Sarah Palin become president?

McCAIN: I’d like to see her compete. I think we’ve got some very good candidates. (Utah Gov.) John Huntsman and — the problem when I run down these names I always leave out a name — (Lousiana Gov.) Bobby Jindal, Tim Pawlenty. There’s so many. There’s a lot of good, fresh talent out there.

GERGORY: Would you support Palin?

McCAIN: Oh, I’d have to see who the candidates are and what the situation is at the time. But have no doubt of my respect, admiration and love for Sarah and her family.

The exchange was a virtual replay of remarks McCain made on ABC’s “This Week” in December, just weeks after the election, when he joked “my corpse is still warm.”

That suggests that developments since then — including Jindal’s widely panned Republican response to President Obama’s address to Congress and Pawlenty’s poor straw-poll showing at a conservative confab — haven’t discouraged McCain about the future of those two 2008 GOP veepstakes also-rans.

Asked today how the Republican Party can avoid permanent minority status, McCain listed several approaches: “Party of ideas, party of inclusiveness, outreach to other ethnic aspects of the American electorate.

“A lot of people complain about divisions within the Republican Party,” McCain said. “That’s good right now. Let’s let a thousand flowers bloom.”

(If embedded video does not appear above, see the “Meet the Press” clip here.)