Posted on 08/23/2007 8:42:30 AM PDT by pissant
GRAPEVINE -- The good news for U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter is that he should get plenty of exposure during the Texas Republican Straw Poll during the Labor Day weekend.
The bad news is that on Wednesday afternoon, only one newspaper reporter and one TV news crew showed up for his news conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
But the California Republican was all smiles. He was courteous when members of Gaylord security staff showed up and mentioned that they had learned about Hunter's news conference on the Internet. Politely but firmly, they told him that they expected to be notified of future events.
Hunter was eager to talk about the 2006 legislation he co-authored that requires the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Texas-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security is not moving fast enough to build the fence, he said, and he is trying to put pressure on President Bush.
"Today, I am giving them an 'F' for execution on the border fence," said Hunter, whose House district in San Diego County extends almost to the Mexican border.
Hunter pledged to have the entire border fenced within six months of taking office, if he is elected president.
On Aug. 11, Hunter finished ninth out of 11 candidates in the Iowa straw poll. But he might fare better in the Texas straw poll, to be conducted in Fort Worth on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, because so far, only he, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are scheduled to attend.
"I respect the views of Texans," Hunter said. "I think this is a great event."
Hunter, 58, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has two bedrock issues: support for the military (he's an Army veteran of the Vietnam War and has a son serving in Iraq) and opposition to illegal immigration.
He has been in Texas for six days making campaign stops around the state, but he has been spending most of his time in North Texas.
He said he's returning to San Diego on Friday to help his son's campaign for Congress. The younger Hunter -- Duncan Duane Hunter, a Marine reservist on active duty -- is running for the House seat that his father will vacate after almost 30 years.
The elder Hunter plans to be back in Texas next week to prepare for the straw poll.
"I told my son he's ahead of me in the polls in Texas," Hunter said. "They like him. I told him he needs to stay for another tour because he's going up in the polls."
Low profiles like Hunter's are common for candidates without huge money-raising machines, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.
"They have raised very little money, which means they have very slim organization on the ground, and no one to do preparatory visits," Jillson said. "All they can do is fly in and hope they can have a small crowd."
Hunter is finding ways to stretch his shoestring budget.
When he is in North Texas, he said, he stays with family in Hurst.
Cmon Texas, do the country proud.
I don’t know about Hunter, I was reading about him and I glazed over when he starts talking about outlawing gambling. yech.
Did you bother to notice that Hunter said gambling should be left to the states?
Indian casinos, state lotteries?
It never ceases to amaze me people who are otherwise staunchly conservative see a Man like Hunter and then dismiss him out of hand “because he’s not a front runner”
well duh
if you continue to support people like Julieannie he’ll never BE the front runner and you’ll be left with another do nothing president or a do something bad liberal one.
FWIW, went to the Pirece County GOP picnic the other night. Even met a couple of freepers there. But there was a large contingent of non-republicans there supporting Ron Paul. Not sure who these clowns were, mostly (not all)looked like a reefer smoking slackers. But there was about 40 of them. They won the informal straw poll for their peacenik hero. Time to step on their throats.
no, I didn’t notice it, I stopped reading at “all forms of gambling are bad” or something like it.
is he anti-illegals? I want someone anti-illegal and anti-china above ALL!
I am not a lottery fan, I like poker. I play at indian casinos and biloxi casinos.
Wish I lived in Texas!!
Utah only gave Hunter 12 votes in their straw-poll. Of course I was one of them. Pathetic really. 88% of Utah supported the flipping, one-fingered glove.
Giddy-up Congressman Hunter! You’ve always had my vote!
I’ll be sending a couple of emails out this week to most of the GOP County Chairman in the state supporting Hunter.
I will be going. Can anyone get their hands on a thousand shirt stickers for me?
A thousand shirt stickers? Let’s check with some folks in the know.
Thank you, pissant. They don't dare give this man the exposure WE need...
Utah is Mormon territory, and Romney, a devout Mormon has spent lots of time there prior to his campaign (in fact it’s his 2nd home). So the 88% in Utah doesn’t surprise me— it’s pretty much a lost cause.
Thanks for that, pissant. I think peacenik Paul has about as much chance of becoming president as Pat Paulsen did, he even kind of reminds me of Paulsen.
Gotta KO Mitt in other states. Utah will support Hunter when its obvious that Mitt won’t win. Let’s make that a reality.
DUNCAN HUNTER actually had a fence built which stopped drug trafficking and crime in San Diego, and HUNTER authored the bill for a fence from California thru Texas, which was signed into law, and HUNTER got us ABS deployed in Alaska, and HUNTER built up the defense that Bill Clinton tore down, and got equipment and weapons to protect our troops, and our country, when he Chaired the House Armed Services Committee (when the Republicans had the majority), and HUNTER went to Iraq FIVE times, and HUNTER did some tough fighting duty in ‘Nam and won a medal, and HUNTER has a son who did two tours in Iraq, including Fallujah, and is now doing a 3rd tour in Afghanistan, so HUNTER has a lot a stake personally, as well.
That’s just a little bit of what HUNTER has DONE, while the other candidates talk or write articles.
Ought to be interesting. Hopefully the ground support will start to build— if so, he’s got a good shot.
He’s done well in some SC straw polls, so I know the guy’s got it in him. Ames is moneyball, it’s almost a waste to put the huge resources that people like Romney did into a mere straw poll.
But whoever is behind him is doing some real legwork. You’ve never seen such a motley crew. I doubt alot of them ever heard of any of the other GOPers running. LOL.
That said, not all Paul supporters are like that, but I think the Koskids and the hemp-fest folks are helping.
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