Hunter continues campaign swing

SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | January 26, 2007 | Staff

[GulfBreeze]

SAN DIEGO – Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, will continue his campaign swing through South Carolina Friday, a day after formally declaring his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. Hunter plans to discuss his support for U.S. involvement in the Iraq War, “fair and equitable trade,” and his opposition to illegal immigration, an aide said, adding the congressman also will field questions from voters at the Charleston School of Law.

Hunter formally declared his candidacy in Spartanburg, S.C. Thursday, saying, “With the support of our families, with faith in God and with confidence in goodness of the American people, let's begin this race for the American presidency.”

Hunter first announced his intention to run for president on Oct. 30 and formed an exploratory committee earlier this month.

He is campaigning in south Carolina because it is the second state to hold a Republican presidential primary, scheduled for Feb. 2, 2008, five days after New Hampshire. The delegate selection process will begin with the Iowa caucuses Jan. 21, 2008.

Hunter's formal entrance into the race drew a sarcastic response from the Democratic National Committee.

“We welcome Hunter's candidacy, which together with his fellow Republican presidential contenders, serves as a potent reminder of why the voters rejected the Republican Party's failed leadership in November and why they'll reject it again in 2008,” Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda said.

Hunter, 58, was elected to the House in 1980 and re-elected every two years since. He was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 2003 until the Democratic takeover of the House earlier this month.

Hunter has billed himself as the most conservative Republican presidential candidate, which he said gave him a chance for victory despite low name recognition.

He has sought to echo former President Ronald Reagan in calling for “Peace through strength.”

“Peace through strength are three words that, when uttered with conviction by a man of principle and great leadership, and backed up by decisive action, had the power to free hundreds of millions of people from the oppression of communism and saved this country from the specter of mutually assured destruction,” Hunter said in a statement posted on his campaign's Web site, Gohunter08.com.

“It was in a speech entitled, 'A Time for Choosing,' that Ronald Reagan ignited the conservative movement in America and began the death knell of communism.

“Peace through strength became our charge. I firmly believe that it will take continued, unwavering dedication to that same calling to achieve victory against the evil terrorist threat we now confront.”

In addition to having to overcome low name recognition and being at 1 percent in several polls among Republican presidential hopefuls, Hunter will also have to overcome history to be elected president. No sitting member of the House has been elected president since Republican James A. Garfield in 1880.

[Calpernia]

Letter sent to:

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)

October 8, 2004


On behalf of the 105,000 members of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), I am writing to express AUSA’s appreciation for the Committee’s efforts and your personal leadership in preparing the FY2005 Defense Authorization Act.

This important legislation contains numerous provisions of significant importance to the military community, including:

■ A significant increase in end strength to begin to ease operational pressures on a too-small force
■ A 3.5 percent average pay raise that will take another step in reducing the existing pay comparability gap
■ Permanent increases in Family Separation Allowance and Imminent Danger Pay for deployed personnel
■ A much-needed increase in military housing allowances
■ A variety of improvements, including health care, to correct inequities experienced by mobilized Guard and Reserve members
■ An end to the Survivor Benefit Program offset for survivors at age 62.

AUSA strongly supports approval of this important legislation and urges final approval of the conference bill by the full House today.

GORDON R. SULLIVAN
General, USA Retired

[mek1959]

You're right and I think it's a matter of time. This is a good start here on FR. Talk shows (producers) lurk here and get a pulse of conservatism. TownHall.com, and other websites/blogs need to start reporting on him. National Review interest would be helpful. There a literally hundreds of voices out there that can help.

It's gonna take time, but keeping the conversation going here on FR is essential.

[Calpernia]

San Diego Armed Services YMCA > Naval Medical Center Programs > Duncan Hunter Wounded Marines Golf Tournament 5.8.06 - Benefiting our programs for the combat wounded at Naval Medical Center San Diego

[CheyennePress]

Newt also has more skeletons in his closet than the catacombs of Rome. And past political bad blood, too.

I agree, Newt has more name recognition. And the intellectual qualifications to fill the post. I just don't think he's electable.

[william clark]

[Churchillspirit]

Totally agree about the picture. He looks much too stern.

Must have been chosen by a guy. LOL!

[Calpernia]

Alright, I just called.

I have no idea what affect it will have either. It sounded like the elderly woman who answered didn't understand what I was talking about.

:P

[Reagan Man]

The politics of Cong Duncan Hunter and his early campaign efforts for the Presidency are looking better each day to this conservative. Whether he can mount a sustained effort and see support for his candidacy grow, is unknowable at this time. I hope Hunter can get the GOP faithful energized enough to make a serious play for the WH, long term. Gotta start somewhere. And the alternative candidates of Rudy, Mitt and JohnnyMac are pathetic choices for conservatives.

[chaos_5]

I just cant say this enough.

Go Hunter 08!!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I see it in this picture in this light, he ( Duncan ) could be lecturing a Liberal/MSM/Democrat.

[azcap]

EXCELLENT POINT!!! One speach propelled Obama from noone to rockstar road...

 

NO, The blessing and anointment of the liberal MSM took Obama from nobody to household name. Don't expect Hunter or any other conservative to get that kind of free press machine anytime soon. The only Republican who has ever gotten that kind of fawning from the MSM is John McCain. And although I don't think he realizes it that good will would disappear the instant he got the GOP nomination and was up against a Democrat. Hunter's soundbite about Romney was priceless, but the fact remains that whoever wants the GOP nomination does need $100 Million.  

[GulfBreeze]

No. That one speech kicked him up overnight.

Obviously media is powerful. But that speech made the man.

[Domandred]

Here is the full list of votes by Hunter maintained by the Washington Post:

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/h000981/votes/

[Digger]

I like Hunter, but i think Newt is just as conservative and has more name recognition. Hunter would be a good running mate. He just isnt vocal enough. Newt has the eloquence we need.

This wouldn't be bad. I'm afraid no conservative gets thru the primaries because this corrupt "Two-Party Cartel" owned by the elites would never let that happen. Imagine going to the polls excited to vote for a real conservative.

[Old_Mil]

Hillary won't stand a chance against Hunter in a debate. The question is what lengths the McCain-Dole-Rudy axis of liberalism will go to try and keep a second Reagan from winning the nomination.

[Calpernia]

Dole? Is she running again?

[blackie]

[Old_Mil]

No, Dole isn't running again. I'm referring to the pivotal role that she played as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman in ensuring that conservative candidates would suffer losses during this past election cycle.

[Calpernia]

That job seems to belong to the Log Cabin Republicans now.

[samm1148]

"A conservative candidate begins to run in the GOP primary for president and here on a suposedly conservative forum we will soon see images of Duncan Hines cake mix to ridicule this man."

Consider this when you think of republican moderates:

I was stationed in the Middle East and frequently saw satellite imagery of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. This was at a time when these weapons were NOT a political axe to grind.

Comes the second Gulf War and these weapons are gone (destroyed, gone to Syria I don't know). But the point is they EXISTED. Now republican moderates are siding with democrats who deny that the weapons existed. Yet they had to have had access to the same info that a lowly tech sergeant had. My point: Republican moderates are so weak-willed that they will deny the evidence of their own senses just to get along.

So look who is conducting the ridicule of Hunter: A lot of unprincipled, limp-wristed children who are just looking to attach themselves to whatever movement they think everyone else is following. No wonder they cost conservatives the last election.