Unfazed by Better Known Opponents, Hunter Makes Candidacy Official Thursday [Duncan Hunter Alert!]

Congressional Quarterly ^ | 1/23/07 | Rachel Kapochunas

[Antoninus]

California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter will formally announce his candidacy for president Thursday — less than two weeks after he took the first official step by filing paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to establish a presidential campaign “exploratory” committee.

According to a statement released Tuesday, Hunter will make his announcement at the Marriott Renaissance Park hotel in the South Carolina city of Spartanburg — located in the state’s overwhelmingly Republican northwestern region. The breakfast event is titled “America: The Strength of Freedom,” which also is Hunter’s campaign slogan.

“I will speak about a new American sunrise of opportunity, faith and freedom for the citizens of our great nation,” said Hunter.

The choice of South Carolina as the venue symbolizes the strategy Hunter is using, as he seeks to extend beyond his very limited political base in the San Diego-area 52nd Congressional District and overcome a big deficit in national name identification.

The 58-year-old Hunter, a 14-term incumbent who chaired the Armed Services Committee prior to the Democrats’ House takeover and now is its ranking member, is campaigning both on his hawkish views on defense issues and his equally staunch conservatism on financial and social issues.

In order to gain any traction in the presidential race, he must quickly make an impression on voters in places such as strongly conservative-leaning South Carolina, which in recent years has emerged as a Republican Party stronghold.

South Carolina has several military bases, so Hunter may at least get a hearing from voters there because of his background on national security issues. He is one of the staunchest defenders of the Bush administration’s policies in the Iraq war.

Hunter, who has served on the Armed Services Committee since he was elected to Congress in 1980, has a personal background of military service as a member of the Army from 1969 to 1971. He received a Bronze Star for participating in 25 helicopter combat assaults during the war in Vietnam.

In his release, Hunter touted his experience as well as his political leanings, stating that he is “considered by many to be the most conservative Republican in the presidential race.”

Along with his defense posture, Hunter is a fervent opponent of illegal immigration, and reaffirmed his socially conservative platform Monday on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Hunter, according to the Associated Press, told participants of the March for Life anti-abortion rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.: “If we have a judicial applicant, a judicial nominee who can look at a sonogram of an unborn child and not see the value of human life ... if I should become president of the United States, he will not receive a judicial appointment.”

Hunter, though, faces strong competition for the conservative vote from the only other Republican officeholder who is an official presidential candidate: Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who received a 100 percent score from The American Conservative Union in 2005. The other official candidate, attorney John Cox of Illinois, is emphasizing his own socially conservative stances.

Among others who have set up presidential exploratory committees or are considering bids, there are social conservatives — such as Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo and former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III — who would be directing appeals to that wing of the Republican electorate.

Hunter enters relatively unknown outside defense-related circles. Having never run for office on a larger stage than his congressional district, he will likely find fundraising a significant challenge.

That certainly will not be the case for prospective front-running candidates such as Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, nationally known figures who have formed exploratory committees and currently lead the GOP field in national polls.

Last week, though, Hunter took a swipe at McCain by releasing a straw poll taken in Arizona’s Maricopa County (Phoenix), in which Hunter finished first and the homestate senator ran fourth. Though Republicans in the state’s most populous county called the results surprising, McCain’s maverick tendencies have angered members of his party in the past.

[Hydroshock]

I did not notice the resemblance between the two before it was mentioned. And I live in the 22nd district in Tx, Delay's old district.

[Antoninus]

As much as I hate to do it, I think I too would vote third party before voting for Giuliani. I've had to hold my nose on votes before, but if Giuiliani does not oppose even partial birth abortion, then I can't vote for him. Morally I can't justify voting for someone who would support partial birth abortion.

Me too. But you don't have to be a single-issue voter not to vote for Rudy. I'm a multi-issue non-Giuliani supporter. To wit:

1.) He's pro-abortion.

2.) He's pro-gun control.

3.) He's pro-gay-marriage/pro-hate-crimes laws.

4.) He's pro-illegal immigration.

That about does it for me.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

What was the "single issue" that did in George H. W. Bush in 1992?

"It's the economy, stupid."

[Antoninus]

Maybe the real problem is that NOBODY knows what Duncan Hunter looks like. Gee, I wonder how that could be?

So if Hunter acquires a national profile and begins rising in the polls, you'll have no beef with him. Is that what you're saying? You're only problem is that no one knows who he is yet?

If public recognition is the only factor here, then by all means, let's just nominate Paris Hilton and be done with it!

[Antoninus]

"It's the economy, stupid."

According to you and Jimmy Carvile. So you're saying that the "no new taxes" thing had nothing to do with it, eh?

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

In Registered's defense, he's a long-time Freeper with a pedigree (If I may use that word??). Lots of FReepers (most too smart by half) have gotten on the Rudy McRomney bandwagon because they've bought into the fear factor--that the only way to defeat Hillary is to run a "moderate" Republican.

Many of them are slowly coming to the realization that this attitude is not only wrong, but likely to result in an electoral disaster for the GOP.

I put Registered in that camp. He's a smart guy. I think he'll come around before too long.

First, if you're going to tell the world who he is supporting, you should at least ping him.

Second, Registered has never said anything about supporting either Rudy or Mitt. He has said that he doesn't think conservatives should be attacking their own. There is no good that can come from that. Conservatives should be giving everyone reasons why we should vote for their guy, not tearing every potential nominee down on behalf of the Democrats.

Registered's entitled to his opinion and he is a conservative. If Duncan Hunter wants to make a better impression with conservatives, he should distance from Tom Delay. There's nothing wrong with pointing out something obvious and easy enough to fix to help a candidate not be aligned with someone like Delay. If Duncan Hunter doesn't really care about Registered's vote, he can ignore the advice, but I guarantee you calling someone who is very conservative a Democrat operative on FR will not win friends on your side.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

If Hunter is the nominee, he'll get my vote. National recognition is REQUIRED to win a majority vote. That's very basic I think?

As for having no beef with him, I don't at this stage simply because I don't know enough about him. Time will tell if he can get his message out someone like me.

So far, all I know about Duncan Hunter is that he resembles Tom Delay. If I have the TV on mute and am simply looking at a pic, guess what I'll see? Someone making me extremely uncomfortable because of a scandal that helped to bring down the GOP. I guess we should all just keep our mouths shut about such simple things as image and hair dye. We wouldn't want to hurt any feelings.

No new taxes is not an economy issue? Hrm, that's news to me.

[Antoninus]

First, if you're going to tell the world who he is supporting, you should at least ping him.

Uh, I did.

Conservatives should be giving everyone reasons why we should vote for their guy, not tearing every potential nominee down on behalf of the Democrats.

The fact is that Rudy McRomney all have tremendous down-sides. If we don't hash this stuff out now, it will certainly come back to bite us if (God forbid!) any of those three get the nomination. I'm sorry that there's so little material out there to bash Hunter with at this point. I'm sure if some does arrive, all this demanded mannerliness will be out the window.

Registered's entitled to his opinion and he is a conservative. If Duncan Hunter wants to make a better impression with conservatives, he should distance from Tom Delay.

Ah, so is that the crux of what you guys are getting at--trying to draw an actually connection between Hunter and Delay? Not just physical resemblance?

Well, if you've got the goods, do tell! Otherwise, knock it off.

[Antoninus]

National recognition is REQUIRED to win a majority vote. That's very basic I think?

Uh, I think whoever wins the Republican nomination will have national recognition. That's a given.

So far, all I know about Duncan Hunter is that he resembles Tom Delay.

You'd be well served to find out more about him, then. Have a look at his PAC's website:

Peace Through Strength PAC

No new taxes is not an economy issue? Hrm, that's news to me.

No, it's not. The "Read my lips" thing was a character issue and a matter of trust. Many people perceived that Bush simply lied to them.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

You're reading way too much into a post that is simply stating the obvious. First impressions matter.

Why are you making enemies of someone who has absolutely no hostility towards your guy?

[Antoninus]

You're reading way too much into a post that is simply stating the obvious. First impressions matter.

Maybe in looking for a spouse. But the number of people who will reject Hunter because he may or may not bear a passing resemblance to Tom Delay can probably be measured in the dozens.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

I will do my research as I have time. Of the top 10 list of possible nominees that was posted a few months ago, I've actually met or know at least 4 of them. I have a life and a job and will get around to the rest as my life allows. For now, I have to rely on whatever tidbits I can grab. First impressions do matter. Not everyone researches the candidates the way most Freepers do.

And yes, I think Duncan Hunter's pic resembles Tom Delay's pic.

[proudpapa]

For the record I never said that Reg was a dem operative.

However I see so many stupid comments and posts at freerepublic I can't help wonder who is behind some of them. (Soros, Hillary?)

There are way to many stories about Mitt, who has a good chance of winning Utah but not his home state of Massachusetts.

There are way to many stories posted about Rudy, even though he is unacceptable for many conservatives.

And don't get me started on McCain.

Others like Gingrich, and Hagel are DOA.

Brownback, Paul, Tancredo aren't bad but they're going no where fast.

Hunter has a winning track record. He's a true conservative with a strong military record.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

The Dem operative comment was made in a reply to you, not from you.

What bugs me most is people totally trashing every candidate the GOP puts up except for their candidate.

Like I said, I have no issue with Hunter so far. I don't know enough about him to have any issues, and hopefully the more I learn, I'll still have no issues with him.

I don't think pointing out an obvious resemblance to someone radioactive to the GOP is trashing Hunter, especially when it is something EASILY fixed. I assumed that was Registered's point, but he'll have to speak for himself. I simply saw it as stating the obvious.

[SoCalPol]

For those without TVs. Duncan Hunter over the years has been on "Meet the Press" and other National programs.
Countless times on C-SPAN especially as Chariman of the Armed Services Comm. in hearings.
He is known my those who follow world affairs, Military, border issues, etc.


Also have seen for several days, trying to tie together in various forms Hunter & DeLay.
One of the other candidate's insecure FReepers went balistic attacking DeLay on a Hunter thread.

If the others supporting other candidates are that insecure
that they just can't speak about their candidate and instead use 6th grade techniques and childish spams to attack Hunter, it tells me enough that you are more interested in dividing the Republican party than seeing The party is in office in 08

[Registered]

What percent of the voters do you think could pick DeLay out of a lineup?

A better question might be,"would someone confuse the two in a line-up based on their similar features"?

Now, I know to some here my observation might be a bit superficial. Yes issues matter most, and what the candidate's background is and what sort of experience he brings to a possible nomination. The reason I pointed out the resemblance between Delay and Hunter is that (unfortunately) appearance makes a much larger impact than is given credit here on FR. Sure, I am glad Hunter has fantastic conservative credentials, that's a good thing. However, the package that is carrying those credentials might turn-off voters on first impression. That's sorta my point.

[Antoninus]

Hunter has a winning track record. He's a true conservative with a strong military record.

I think your analysis of the situation is spot on. I think he'd be a superb candidate and very difficult to beat in the general election.

[wolfcreek]

"Duncan Hunter is the best conservative candidate out there. He just lacks national name recognition."


Rush brought up his name as one of the candidates not being mentioned much. It's good he's starting his run now.

[LC HOGHEAD]

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[JRochelle]

You must post that more often!


I love it!