LIVE BLOG: Huntsman Stumps in Hampton

8:02 a.m.: We just had a one-on-one with Huntsman, talking to him about what he's taking out of his low Iowa polling and what he's going to do to sway voters to his side in New Hampshire. Story and video to come soon. The live blog is now over.

7:53 a.m.: Department of Defense must be "on this table" during spending talks, too. "We can no longer afford sacred cows," he said. Huntsman done now after answering one more question. More to come.

7:52 a.m.: First question about Medicare and Medicaid. "The only way we'll be able to deal realistically with numbers will be to begin block granting," he said. We'll have to deal with "most vulnerable" groups of people first and give states block grants to deal with that, he said. Said he likes the "Ryan plan" on Medicare.

7:50 a.m.: Huntsman wrapping now. "I know I'm the underdog, but I also know New Hampshire loves underdogs," he said. "Let's do it again."

7:49 a.m.: Huntsman: "Mitt Romney's a good man and I respect him, but he's on receiving end of [everything] on Wall Street. I say there's no way you'll be able to do anything than status quo."

7:47 a.m.: "I want to stand up with the American people and square with them and say Afghanistan is not our nation's future," he said. "Iraq is not our nation's future." He said 2050 will be the end of American if "we do not get our act together."

7:43 a.m.: Huntsman said the other deficit the nation faces is a "trust deficit." He said he wants to "lead the charge in this nation" to bring more trust in a president that does "more than just feed you applause lines" and in a Congress that has no "cronyism," which he said he'll eliminate through a Congress term limit.

7:40 a.m.: The first issue addressed by Huntsman is about the nation's debt. He said "we've got to break out of the box folks" and "fire the engines" of manufacturing in the country to help spur growth. He said the right leadership," with the right idea on tax reform" — his — this can be done. "This nation needs to desperately fire the engines of job growth," he said.

7:39 a.m.: Huntsman speaking now, and said he has one request: "I want your vote. I learned a long time ago as governor that if I don't ask for it, I won't get it."

7:34 a.m.: Huntsman and his wife Mary Kaye were just formally introduced to the crowd.

7:32 a.m.: Huntsman said he was amazed at the view of the ocean from the hotel, and asked what it's like in the summer. Waddell and others told him it's better in the winter because there are 100,000 fewer people. Huntsman said that level of tourism is called "bursting at the seams."

7:27 a.m.: Huntsman just arrived. Greeting people now.

7:25 a.m.: With less than a week to go until the primary, which is on Tuesday, Jan. 10, Waddell said he thinks Huntsman needs to continue to "get his name out there," tell people "here's my record, here's my record," and continue to meet voters in New Hampshire because it .

7:23 a.m.: Waddell said Huntsman, Santorum and Gingrich (in that order) are "not pandering," while the other candidates are. That said, Waddell said Huntsman's "resume just kills everyone else." The only thing he said Republicans have against him is that he was an ambassador while Barack Obama was in office, a criticism which Waddell said is "crazy" and unfair.

7:21 a.m.: Waddell said he sees Huntsman's support "growing," as evidenced by a 400-person recent town hall-style meeting in Peterborough. Waddell said Huntsman should be able to sway people behind his message if people "look at his record," which Waddell said shows the governor's been the most "consistent" and doesn't "play" and "pander" to the crowd.

7:20 a.m.: Breakfast is being served now. State Sen. Nancy Stiles, R-Hampton, and other local dignitaries like John Nyhan, who is running the Hampton Rotary event, are here.

7:16 a.m.: State Rep. Jim Waddell, R-Hampton, just told Patch that he's not sure why Huntsman's message doesn't "click" more with people accross the country. He said he expects a much stronger showing in New Hampshire than the .6 percent Huntsman pulled in Iowa, though, and said "I could see that happening — absolutely" when asked if he thought Huntsman could make a surge in the Granite State like Rick Santorum's second place-surge in the Hawkeye State.

7 a.m.: Jon Huntsman is set to arrive any minute. If you plan on attending, come in the Breakers door and head to the back left conference room.

5:46 a.m.: Jon Huntsman is scheduled to speak shortly at the , which is with the GOP presidential hopeful.

Huntsman garnered just .6 percent in Tuesday's Iowa caucus and was behind the , although he's been focused primarily on the New Hampshire primary and has seen stronger polling numbers in the Granite State.

The former Utah governor has made several stops to the area as a part of that New Hampshire campaign, including to Hampton as well as a in North Hampton.

This article will serve as a live blog for this morning's visit, which begins at 7:15 a.m. Stay tuned for coverage, and be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter accounts for more information as well.