Jon Huntsman takes New Hampshire pitch to ‘SNL’ [Video]

What do Jon Huntsman and Kermit the Frog have in common?

Both, as it turns out, were featured performers on this weekend’s episode of “Saturday Night Live,” one pitching a new movie, and the other trying to break through in the Republican race for president (see video below).

Huntsman, the former Utah governor and ambassador to China, poked fun at his second-tier status in the 2012 race and his New Hampshire-centric campaign strategy during the popular “Weekend Update” segment.

It is true, he said, that he is still polling in the single digits.

“But only a few months ago I was polling at margin of error. So to have any digit at all is a pretty big deal,” he said.

Was he alienating other states by putting all his eggs in the New Hampshire basket, Seth Meyers asked.

“I love all of America, from Dallas, Texas, to Manchester, New Hampshire. From the majestic Rocky Mountains to New Hampshire’s scenic Lake Winnapausake. From the innovation of Silicon Valley to the affordable outlet malls in North Conway, New Hampshire,” he said.

Meyers is a New Hampshire native and pointed that out to Huntsman.

“Well that makes sense. Because you’re kind and good looking -- classic New Hampshire,” Huntsman joked -- later adding, “Wise, like a Dartmouth professor.”

He asked if Meyers’ parents were registered voters in the Granite State. Meyers said his mother was a registered Democrat, his father an independent.

“Well, say hi to your dad for me,” the candidate said.

Huntsman may have been upstaged just moments later by the green Muppet, just like he has by a rotating cast of surging Republicans in the endless string of debates.

“SNL” began its show with Mitt Romney -- not the actual former Massachusetts governor, but the one portrayed by Jason Sudeikis. The sketch depicted a made-up attempt by Romney to shake up his staid public persona.

“You don’t hear much about me in the news because the other candidates like Herman Cain and Rick Perry are hogging all the headlines with sex scandals and whoopsie-daisies. That’s why my staff and I decided I was too boring, and therefore I should become 15 to 17% more edgy,” he said.

“Mitt Romney: Raw & Unleashed” included him unbuttoning his suit jacket and scolding an aide for bringing him lukewarm tea. To match Cain and Perry’s struggles with policy questions, Romney says his first act as president would be to “repeal Obama-hair.”

“Ooops! I mean Obamacare!” he says. “What an endearing flub. That mistake is sure to haunt my campaign, but also humanize me!”

While Huntsman made a New Hampshire pitch on the New York-based sketch comedy show, the real Mitt Romney is announcing the endorsement of the state’s top elected Republican, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, in Nashua.

Here’s the Huntsman sketch:

And the Romney cold-open: