SEPARATED AT BIRTH: JON HUNTSMAN AND SPINAL TAP?

Huntsman: Joined a band in the 1970s.
Spinal Tap: Formed band in the 1960s.

Huntsman: Was ambassador to China.
Spinal Tap: "Sex Farm" is a top ten single in Japan.

Huntsman:

A blistering internal feud in the Jon Huntsman presidential campaign is erupting into public view, with dueling camps trading charges and an exodus of campaign officials.

And now, a longtime family friend tells POLITICO that Huntsman's wife and father fret that his presidential prospects have been threatened by the turmoil -- and he places the blame on John Weaver, Huntsman's controversial chief strategist....

"I look forward to a future of less drama, more money and increasing contrasts with my opponents. We can win this thing," Huntsman wrote in an email to the friend just hours after the resignation of his first campaign manager, Susie Wiles, became public July 21.

"Goodness will overcome the temporary difficulties and early turf-protecting within the campaign," Huntsman wrote, adding: "I love you like a brother."

The recipient of that email -- David Fischer, who has known Huntsman since the 1980s and has worked for his father -- shared with POLITICO behind-the-scenes details about Huntsman's stumbling start.

He described Huntsman's campaign as disorganized and full of staff tension, disclosed new facts about the candidate’s announcement day mishaps, recounted tearful conversations with the recently departed Wiles and revealed other previously undisclosed resignations.

Fischer himself recently left the campaign....

Spinal Tap:

As the tour starts, concert appearances are repeatedly canceled due to low ticket sales. Tensions continue to increase when several major retailers refuse to sell Smell the Glove because of its sexist cover art and there is growing resentment shown towards the group's manager Ian Faith (Tony Hendra). Tufnel becomes even more perturbed when St. Hubbins' girlfriend Jeanine (June Chadwick) -- a manipulative yoga and astrology devotee -- joins the group on tour and begins to participate in band meetings and attempts to influence their costumes and stage presentation....

In order to rekindle interest, Tufnel suggests staging a performance of "Stonehenge," an epic song that is to be accompanied in concert by a lavish stage show, and asks Ian to order a giant Stonehenge megalith for the show. However, Tufnel, rushing a sketch on a napkin, mislabels its dimensions, using a double prime symbol instead of single prime. The resulting prop, seen for the first time by the group during a show, ends up only 18 inches high (instead of the intended 18 feet), making the group a laughing stock on stage. The group accuses Faith of mismanagement, and when St. Hubbins suggests Jeanine should co-manage the group, Faith quits in disgust.

The tour continues, rescheduled into smaller and smaller venues. Tufnel becomes marginalized by Jeanine and St. Hubbins....

Nigel and David ultimately decide they love each other like brothers, just like Jonny Boy and his old pal Fischer, so I'm sure there'll be a tearful reunion and they can go on pursuing pathetic, futile dreams of political excellence and world domination just like Tap's dreams of musical excellence and world domination. I wonder if Jonny Boy's motorcycle goes to 11....