Britain has much potential: natural salt caverns and depleted gas fields could store decades of emissions from Europe.

ECONOMIST: Nuclear power: The wind, the sun—and the atom | The

But sources close to Huntsman (who requested anonymity to speak freely without his permission) say that during his December trip to the U.S., he met with several former political advisers in Washington and Salt Lake City to discuss a potential campaign.

FORBES: Jon Huntsman for President?

But it's more likely that Powers' earning potential will subside with the dimming of the Salt Lake City Olympics glare.

FORBES: For Powers, Gold Won't Beget Gold

The idea for this trip must have been that simply seeing Mr Romney in an Olympic setting would remind potential voters of what many would see as his greatest achievement: turning around the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002.

BBC: Romney faces Olympic test in London