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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Add former ambassador and Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to the parade of potential 2012 GOP presidential candidates bending South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's ear.

Huntsman will pay a visit to Haley Friday.

Huntsman wrapped up his work as U.S. ambassador to China last week and formed a political action committee to help hire staff and raise money for a potential bid for president.

He's a commencement speaker at the University of South Carolina in Columbia on Saturday.

Huntsman won't be at the GOP's first presidential primary debate Thursday in Greenville, the state GOP's fundraising dinner Friday or the South Carolina Republican Party convention Saturday.

Haley has met with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, and spoken by phone with Donald Trump.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)