?
Rep Hunter is expected to hold a press conference today to announce his intention to seek the 2008 Republican nomination:
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., plans to announce Monday that he’s considering a presidential run in 2008, according to a Republican official.
Hunter told Fox News Channel Sunday, “I’m going to make an announcement about a national campaign in ’08.” He didn’t elaborate, other than to say it would be made from the waterfront “where I started my humble career in 1980.”
A Republican official said Hunter planned to announce that he was forming an exploratory committee, which would allow him to begin raising money and organizing supporters in early Republican primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The official didn’t want to speak on the record ahead of Hunter’s announcement.
Hunter’s announcement came as a surprise to leadership in the Republican Party in Washington. He had not been discussed as one of the many candidates considering a presidential bid, among them Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
Hunter, a 13-term incumbent who represents the San Diego suburbs, is a strong conservative who’s focused on supporting the military, particularly the country’s troops, and on stopping illegal immigration. He’s a stubborn advocate for those causes, pushing for completion of the western portion of a U.S.-Mexico border fence over objections from Democrats and environmentalists.
October 30th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Someone’s angling for Veep, I suspect.
October 30th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Umm…
This is very bizarre.
October 30th, 2006 at 3:23 pm
This is bizarre.
October 30th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
This is not bizarre, so much. The 2008 race is so wide open that there are going to be lots of candidates who come out of the woodwork despite the fact that the mainstream media have anointed their favorites. And if you have ever worked for a governor or member of Congress, most of them believe they could do the job of president and do it better than the current White House occupant.
The old congressional joke is that a person comes in to the member cloakroom in the Capitol building, calls out “Mr. President,” and every member present turns around and raises their hand…
The list will get a lot longer before it gets shorter. I think Dick Armey will get in, among ohters, on the GOP side.
I do think it will be very difficult for a member of Congress to win the nomination on the GOP side or get on the ticket as vice president. I think GOP voters will be looking for executive experience and skills and will be shying away from the questionable management practices of congressional members.
October 30th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
[...] Hat tip to Kavon for getting the inside scoop on this yesterday. [...]
October 30th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
I agree, Republius. I should have elaborated, but I think Duncan Hunter’s entry into the 2008 race is bizarre because there’s almost no way he can win. He has less name recognition than Mike Huckabee, is a prominent member of the House Republicans who will soon be in the minority and has no significant legislative accomplishments. I just don’t see how he differentiates himself from, say, Newt Gingrich, let alone McCain, Giuliani, or Romney. Also, what possible scenario makes him a desirable veep choice? If McCain or Giuliani would want a more conservative Republican to balance the ticket, there are many that would be more viable than Hunter.
October 30th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
I did some research today, and earlier this month, Hunter, in a behind-closed-doors meeting, killed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) that would have required a Department of Defense spending bill report card revealing to the public all pork barrel spending in Congressional bills, along with the names of their sponsors.
Was he worried his name would appear often on those report cards? His Website brags about “helping local companies obtain defense contracts.”
But his spending spree doesn’t stop there. He also voted for the largest expansion of Medicare since its creation, and voted to support a 2005 highway bill which was filled with tens of thousands of earmarks for Congressional spending projects, many unrelated to highways or even roads.
He’s really got problems. He voted for NCLB, Sarbanes-Oxley, and McCain-Feingold.
The Club for Growth gives him a 49% rating on its 2005 scorecard, and the National Taxpayers Union gives Hunter “C” ratings every year.
We don’t need another big-spending, career politician in the race for president.
October 31st, 2006 at 7:57 pm
I do have to wonder: What is this guy thinking? He has nothing to offer…