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

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.

How come in Hunter threads, no one mentions polls? Could it be that it is a rare poll that Hunter even registers in? If he is an asterisk in January 2007, how the heck is he supposed to get into the teens or twenties.

And don't go on about Clinton, because he was more than an asterisk in January 1991.

Polling Data

If the 2008 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Hagel, Tommy Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, George Pataki, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Jim Gilmore, or Ron Paul, for whom would you vote?
(Republicans and Republican leaners)

	Jan. 2007	Nov. 2006
Rudy Giuliani	34%	34%
John McCain	27%	26%
Mitt Romney	9%	5%
Newt Gingrich	9%	12%
George Pataki	2%	3%
Tommy Thompson	1%	2%
Mike Huckabee	1%	*
Sam Brownback	1%	1%
Tom Tancredo	1%	*
Jim Gilmore	1%	n.a.,
Ron Paul	1%	n.a.
Chuck Hagel	*	*
Duncan Hunter	*	1%
Other	*	*
None of these	2%	6%
Would not vote	1%	*
No opinion	9%	9%

Source: TNS / Washington Post / ABC News
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted from Jan. 16 to Jan. 19, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

Duncan Hunter

2006: Voted in favor of bill to prevent border tunnels Rep. Hunter voted in favor of H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Protection Act of 2006 to penalize any person who constructs or uses a border tunnel. H.R. 4830 passed by a vote of 422 to 0.

2006: Voted in favor of H.R. 6061 to create border fence Rep. Hunter voted in favor of H.R. 6061 to create a 700 mile reinforced fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and to provide for other barriers for border control. H.R. 6061 passed by a vote of 283-138-1 (1 denotes a vote of "present.")

2006: Cosponsored H.R. 6160 to build border fence Rep. Hunter was a cosponsor of H.R. 6160 that would create a 700 mile reinforced fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and provide for additional barriers to improve border control.

2005: Voted for H.R. 4437 to increase border security Rep. Hunter voted in favor of final passage of H.R. 4437 which included provisions to create 700 miles of border fencing along the Mexican border and to require implementation of the entry-exit system. H.R. 4437 was passed by the House by a vote of 239 to 182.

2005: Voted in favor of Sullivan Amendment to H.R. 4437 to increase border control Rep. Hunter voted in favor of the Sullivan Amendment to H.R. 4437 to require full implementation of the automated entry-exit system that was instituted by Congress in 1996. As well, the Sullivan Amendment would have provided for expedited removal of most illegal aliens. The Sullivan Amendment failed by a vote of 162 to 251.

2005: Voted for Hunter Amendment to H.R. 4437 to increase border controls Rep. Hunter voted in favor of the Hunter Amendment to H.R. 4437. The Hunter Amendment would shore up security by building fences and other physical infrastructure to keep out illegal aliens. The Hunter Amendment passed by a vote of 260-159.

2005-2006: Cosponsored H.R. 3938 to increse border controls Rep. Hunter was a cosponsor of H.R. 3938 to increase border controls by: authorizing the use of the military on the border; increasing the number of BP agents, CBP officers, and ICE inspectors; and authorizing $5 billion over 5 years for border patrol equipment and stations.

2002: Voted in favor of amendment to authorize the use of the military in border control efforts Rep. Hunter voted in favor of H. Amdt. 479 to H.R. 4546 to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military to assist in border control efforts.

2005: Voted in favor of H. Amdt. 206 to H.R. 1815 to authorize troops on the border Rep. Hunter voted to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military, under certain conditions, to assist in the performance of border control functions. H. Amdt. 206 passed the House by a vote of 245-184.

2005: Voted in favor of H.R. 418 to increase border controls Rep. Hunter voted in favor of H.R. 418 to strengthen border control by requiring completion of the last 3.5 miles of the San Diego border fence. As well, H.R. 418 would broaden the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and deportability of aliens. H.R. 418 passed by a vote of 261-161.

2005-2006: Working to increase border controls through membership in the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus During the 109th Congress, Rep. Hunter was a member of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus that seeks to improve border control.

2005: Cosponsored H.R. 418 to increase border control H.R. 418 would strengthen border control by requiring completion of the last 3.5 miles of the San Diego border fence. As well, H.R. 418 would broaden the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and deportability of aliens.

2004: Cosponsored H.R. 10 to reduce illegal immigration with border controls Rep. Hunter cosponsored H.R. 10 that included provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S.

2004: Voted against Motion to Recommit on H.R. 10 to strip provision reduce illegal immigration with border controls Rep. Hunter voted against the Maloney Motion to Recommit with Instructions to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. The Maloney Motion to Recommit failed by a vote of 193-223.

2004: Voted for amendment to H.R. 10 to increase border control with border fence Rep. Hunter voted in favor of the Ose Amendment to ensure completion of the last 14 miles of the San Diego border fence. This would serve as a physical barrier to additional illegal immigration. The Ose Amendment passed by a vote of 252-160.

2004: Voted in favor of amendment to H.R. 10 to help security screeners reduce illegal immigration Rep. Hunter voted in favor of the Souder Amendment to H.R. 10 to give all security screening personnel access to law enforcement and intelligence information maintained by DHS. The Souder Amendment sought to help security screeners identify and stop illegal aliens. The Souder Amendment passed by a vote of 410-0.

2004: Voted against amendment to H.R. 10 to strip provision reduce illegal immigration with border controls Rep. Hunter voted against the Menendez Amendment to strip from H.R. 10 provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. The Menendez Amendment failed by a vote of 203-213.

2004: Voted in favor of H.R. 10 to reduce illegal immigration with border controls Rep. Hunter voted in favor of final passage of H.R. 10 that included provisions to increase the number of Border Patrol agents by 2,000 a year for 5 years and to increase the number of ICE inspectors by 1,600 a year for 5 years. As well H.R. 10 contained provisions aimed at better screening of airline passengers before they enter the U.S. H.R. 10 passed by a vote of 282-134.

1999: Voted in favor of the Traficant Amendment to H.R. 1401 to authorize the use of the military on the border Rep. Hunter voted to authorize the Secretary of Defense, under certain circumstances, to assign members of the military to assit the Border Patrol in their efforts. The Traficant Amendment passed by a vote of 242-181.

2004: Voted in favor of Goode Amendment to H.R. 4200 authorize troops on the border Rep. Hunter voted to authorize the Secretary of Defense to assign members of the military, under certain conditions, to assist in the performance of border control functions. The Goode Amendment passed the House by a vote of 231-191.

2003: Voted in favor of the Goode Amendment to H.R. 1588 to authorize the use of the military to assist in border control Rep. Hunter voted to authorize members of the military, under certain circumstances, to assist in border control efforts. The Goode Amendment passed the House by a vote of 250-179.

1995-1996: Cosponsored H.R. 1915 to reduce illegal immigration with border controls Rep. Hunter cosponsored the Immigration in the National Interest Act that contained provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration such as increased Border Patrol forces.

2003-2004: Worked to increase border controls through membership in the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus Rep. Hunter was a member of the 108th Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus that sought to improve Border Control.

2001: Voted in favor of the Traficant Amendment to H.R. 2586 to authorize the use of troops on the border Rep. Hunter voted to authorize the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury to request that members of the Armed Forces assist the INS with border control efforts. The Traficant Amendment passed by a vote of 242-173.

2000: Voted in favor of the Traficant Amendment to H.R. 4205 to authorize the use of the military in border control efforts Rep. Hunter voted in favor of the Traficant Amendment to H.R. 4205 to authorize the Secretary of Defense, under certain circumstances, to assign members of the Armed Forces to assist the INS with border control duties. The Traficant Amendment passed by a vote of 243-183.

1994: Cosponsored legislation to increase border controls Rep. Hunter cosponsored H.R. 3320 to increase border controls by adding an additional 5,000 Border Patrol agents, establishing a border crossing fee, and creating a Border Control Trust Fund.

1993-1994: Cosponsored legislation to increase border controls Rep. Hunter cosponsored H.R. 3862 which would have increased border control by increasing the number of border patrol agents by 74,000.

1996: Cosponsored H.R. 2202 to increase border control Rep. Hunter cosponsored H.R. 2202 to reduce illegal immigration by increasing Border Patrol functions and to bar from legal entry for 10 years any illegal alien who had previously been apprehended and deported.

1996: Voted in favor of H.R. 2202 to reduce illegal immigration with border control Rep. Hunter voted in favor of H.R. 2202, a large omnibus bill with dozens of provisions aimed at reducing illegal immigration. It included major increases in Border Patrol forces. As well, it barred from any kind of legal entry for 10 years any illegal alien who had been previously apprehended and deported. H.R. 2202 passed by a vote of 333-87.

AND, just adding my favorite again, Duncan Hunter Slaps down the Media!

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