Posted on 01/13/2007 8:07:43 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Congressman Duncan Hunter of California is coming to the center of the universe for Republican presidential candidates to formally declare his intention to seek the party's 2008 nomination.
Hunter will make the announcement during a breakfast meeting Jan. 25 at the Spartanburg Marriott at Renaissance Park. Hunter announced Friday the formation of an exploratory committee -- the first step toward throwing his hat in the ring.
"Our citizens deserve a new American sunrise of opportunity, faith and freedom," Hunter said in a release.
County GOP Chairman Rick Beltram said Hunter's choosing to make his announcement here is a nod to South Carolina's importance in the national picture, and to the Upstate's key role in determining the South Carolina winner.
"I think that he, like other candidates, realizes that since South Carolina holds the first in the South primary and that since South Carolina has been the correct predictor of the GOP nominee since 1980, that this is the center of the activity," Beltram said. "Most of the candidates that I've spoken to agree that doing well in Spartanburg and Greenville is vital on the road to the
nomination."
Hunter, 58, actually has been campaigning since the fall. The former head of the House Armed Services Committee visited Spartanburg in December and counts textile magnate Roger Milliken as one of his key supporters.
Neal Thigpen, a Francis Marion University political scientist, said Hunter's goal in officially kicking off his run for the White House in Spartanburg is to gain valuable East Coast coverage of his campaign.
"He's the longest of long shots, so why not go to the heart of where everything is happening and where he could sell his product?" Thigpen said. "He's looked at the map and the events and figured if he's going to have any chance at all, he's got to score here in some fashion."
Spartanburg County has been a popular stop for 2008 GOP hopefuls since 2005, when Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney dropped in for the first time. Arizona Sen. John McCain, considered the frontrunner in the state, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee also have turned up.
Beltram said that in addition to the valuable prize they are seeking, it's a healthy dose of South Carolina that keeps them coming back.
"When candidates do come to Spartanburg, they're all given the red-carpet treatment," Beltram said. "As a result, they find it very easy to make return trips."
Robert W. Dalton can be reached at 562-7274 or bob.dalton@shj.com.
I hope he does well. So far - I like what I've heard about Hunter. I sure don't like most of the other choices the media keeps rubbing my face in.
My advice: bust out some cash now and hire a better PR flack. This might have been good quality for one of 435 Representatives but isn't going to cut it on the road to the White House.
I'm happy to see Hunter moving forward. It's a big challenge to go from where he is to where he wants to be. He needs to work harder and smarter than the media-annointed 'front runners'.
Good luck to him!
I've heard (read) his name a lot. I'd like to see him debate.
BTTT
bttt
Wherever you see a politician touting "Fair Trade" there too will you see major financial support from business looking for trade protection.
When Hunter goes on about "fair trade", it isn't to appeal to Republican primary voters (because it doesn't), but to shill for "magnates" such as Milliken.
Of course, there is the problem with his religion that needs to be dealt with. The last three Baptist presidents and near presidents we've had have all been abject disasters. Hopefully, he can disassociate himself from Carter, Clinton and Gore despite sharing the same religion.
So was Billy Bob Clinton.
Saw Hunter on Glenn Beck last night and was very impressed. Not flashy, but seems to be a good communicator who makes sense.
***Ping to Ditter***
Not many days ago people were talking about a South Carolina poll that had McCain first followed by Rudy and Newt, I believe. Can't remember about Romney.
On that thread I posted that "I would like to see Duncan Hunter in SC", and going on to point out his military credentials along with his son.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE I'M GETTING MY WISH. HE'S GONNA ANNOUNCE IN SC!
He is tailor-made for Debates.
Most Baptists are not like Clinton, Gore or Carter. It will be easy to differentiate himself from them without bothering to address anyone who is ignorant about most Baptists. They are Leftists, blame America firsters. Clinton parades as a Centrist but he gave a speech in the UAE, and other speeches around the world, where he definitely blamed America first. And was paid huge fees for making such speeches.
WOOT!
Ronald Reagan was a fair trader, I believe. It's the Pat Buchanan types who turn off most Republican primary voters.
I've known Duncan Hunter for several years. He's my rep in San Diego, and he's the real deal.
In March of 2001, I made a trip to DC with a local group and it was Duncan's office who played host to our group. We were invited into his office in the Capitol where his staff fed us the greatest sandwiches and soft drinks and allowed us a place to rest our weary feet [we were there to lobby congress for our tax cuts].
Duncan was instrumental in getting the USS Ronald Reagan home-ported in San Diego. The Navy was going to port it in WA state - and Duncan threw a fit. Reagan being a former CA gov deserved to have his carrier in a CA port. San Diego was the logical choice - we are a military town.
I'm really rooting for Duncan to emerge as the best CONSERVATIVE candidate in the fight. And .. the least position I would like to see for him would be Secretary of Defense - because he's such a strong supporter of the military. He has a son in Iraq (now I believe) or he may have just rotated home - don't know for sure.
However, Duncan told Hugh Hewitt that he didn't need as much money as the others, because he didn't need a PR campaign to hone a conservative message .. he already was a conservative, so his money could be better spent other places.
I like his attitude.
I agree. He's got an uphill road to climb - the media desperately wants us to nominate Rudy or McCain - so they will be intent on ignoring Hunter.
If he can keep himself in the news, he'll have a great chance at getting people's attention.
It's extremely hard for a sitting Senator to be elected directly to the White House, and so far it's been impossible to be directly elected from the House.
There are a variety of reasons for that, and I'm not suggesting they can't be overcome, but it makes Hunter a longshot at best.
Anyone who has served as either Vice-President or as a state governor is perceived to have the executive experience required to serve as President. Congresscritters don't have that. It's a perception thing, but in politics, perception is reality.
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