Huntsman taking advantage of open space in N.H.

By Shira Schoenberg, Globe Correspondent

As other Republican presidential candidates barnstorm through Iowa in advance of the Ames Straw Poll, former Utah governor and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman is making a renewed push in New Hampshire.

Huntsman, who has said he does not plan to compete in the Iowa caucuses, has hired more than 20 paid staff in New Hampshire and has several offices opening this summer.

Next week, he will be in the New Hampshire from Monday through Friday and has planned eight public events around the state.

He will tour FIRST, a science and technology youth mentoring program, with founder and Segway inventor Dean Kamen. He will attend house parties, including one at the home for former New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen, and Republican committee events.

Huntsman will also meet with two chamber of commerce groups and will tour Cirtronics, an electronics manufacturing company and popular campaign stop which was also visited by Tim Pawlenty in May.

With the timing of his tour, Huntsman will have much of New Hampshire to himself.

Candidates including Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, and Pawlenty have been campaigning across Iowa in advance of the straw poll.

Huntsman was also in New Hampshire this week for an event at Dartmouth College, where he talked mostly about the U.S.-China relationship.