Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman will announce his bid for the White House next Tuesday near the Statue of Liberty, bringing a moderate Republican and China expert into the race to challenge President Obama.

Huntsman, 51, served as Obama’s ambassador to China before resigning.

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Rick Perry continued to fuel speculation that he’ll add his name to the GOP field last night at a fund-raiser for the Manhattan Republican Party where he blasted Obama and touted the his record on job creation.