Jon Huntsman Jumps to Third Place in New Hampshire Poll

Jon Huntsman has officially entered double digit territory in New Hampshire, according to a new poll by Suffolk University. The former governor garnered 10% in a poll of 400 likely Republican primary voters, ranking third out of eleven GOP hopefuls. Mitt Romney stood well ahead of the pack at 41%, followed by Ron Paul at 14%, while national frontrunner Rick Perry took fourth place with 8%.

Huntsman’s campaign was delighted by the news, quickly sending out a fundraising email titled: “On The Hunt! Jon Jumps In New Poll.”

“We have exciting news to share this evening,” campaign manager Matt David wrote to supporters. “A new poll just released shows Governor Huntsman’s support jumping in New Hampshire, and confirms what we have known all along about Jon: once you get to know him, you’re for him.”

Huntsman is going all in in New Hampshire, even leaving his Florida home base during this weekend’s Presidential 5 conference to stump through the Granite State.

“We are speaking at CPAC and attending the debate,” Huntsman’s spokesperson Tim Miller told ABC News. “But our top priority is campaigning New Hampshire, because to do well in South Carolina and Florida it will be vital to come out of N.H. with a head of steam. To that end we’ll be in the Granite State this weekend.”

The news of Huntsman’s successful poll numbers comes on the heels of a CNN report that the campaign fired three junior staffers in New Hampshire earlier this week, and replaced them with two employees from Florida. The campaign declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Huntsman’s campaign moved several staffers from its Orlando headquarters up to New Hampshire.

“New Hampshire is a vital part of our strategy, and we want to ensure we have the best possible team in place to spread Gov. Huntsman’s message of serious solutions in the critical ‘First in the Nation’ primary state,” David said.