Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman acknowledged today that his 2012 presidential campaign was in a do-or-die situation when it comes to winning the New Hampshire primary.

“New Hampshire is it,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “We’re putting everything into New Hampshire, and we’re doing it right.

“Our town hall meetings are packed,” he added. “We’re connecting with people there. I have every confidence that [with] the work we’re doing on the ground, coupled with some advertisements on the air, we’re going to be up, and up considerably.”

He was also asked about his glowing speech introducing then-Gov. Sarah Palin as the GOP vice presidential nominee at the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“I wanted to help my good friend John McCain,” Huntsman said. “I wanted to help his ticket. I wanted to move the Republicans toward victory, and I stepped up and I did what I thought what was right.”

When pressed on whether his explanation today was a less-than-ringing endorsement of Palin, Huntsman said that she was “capable of being vice president” but would have “learned a lot on the job.”