Duncan Hunter's Long-Shot Conservative Bid

RealClearPolitics ^ | George Will

[Antoninus]

WASHINGTON -- When Bob Hunter, a Riverside, Calif., businessman, would hear of a conservative's campaign that needed volunteers, he would pile his family into the station wagon and drive off to ring doorbells. Hunter's son Duncan grew up believing in retail politics.

When Hunter returned home after serving as an alternate Goldwater delegate at the 1964 Republican convention in San Francisco, he told Duncan about chatting with another alternate, an amiable fellow, some actor, named Reagan. Who two years later was elected governor. Duncan learned early on about rapid upward mobility in politics.

In 1969, he dropped out of college, joined the army and was sent to Vietnam. From there he mailed his pay to a friend who purchased for him an island in Idaho's Snake River, where Duncan farmed after his discharge. Then another friend said a San Diego law school would admit him without a college degree. In 1980 he was a lawyer with a storefront office in San Diego's Hispanic community when his father walked in and told him he could be a congressman. Never mind, his father said, that this district was only 29 percent Republican. Reagan was at the top of the ticket.

Duncan says his Baptist minister, respecting the separation of church and state, told parishioners they should vote for the Reagan of their choice. They distributed 400,000 Duncan brochures. Today Duncan is in his 14th term representing eastern San Diego County. Three weeks ago he formally launched his presidential candidacy.

Why does he think he can become the first House member elected president since James Garfield in 1880? Why does he think he can do better than the two strongest House candidates in recent elections?...

"For some candidates,'' Hunter says, "the conservative constituency is an inconvenience. For me, it is my hope.''

[Antoninus]

I really like that.. Hunter seems to have a true humble and honest Abe manner of speaking without all the self-promoting vapors.

He's also self-deprecating. I really like the guy. The first politician I've said that about in a LONG time.

[Blackirish]

Did FR stop hating George Will today?

[Antoninus]

Did FR stop hating George Will today?

Yep. Just for today.

Now come on. Even *you* have to be impressed with how Hunter is portrayed in this article.

[pissant]

No.

[SeaBiscuit]

Yes, and he certainly is not the 'lesser of two evils'.. it's exciting for a change..there is hope. A tough slog for sure, but good and lasting things never come easy.

[Blackirish]

No it was a good article and good for your guy.

[Registered]

People are starting to take notice.

All 3 of them.

[George W. Bush]

Why does he think he can become the first House member elected president since James Garfield in 1880?

And how many times did we hear how no sitting VP had been elected in 150 years (or something like that) when Bush I was elected?

That's no reason to deny he can be elected in '08.

Asked what his wife said when he told her he was running for president, he pauses, then says, smiling: "She's happy now.'' She seems remarkably resilient. Not long after a wildfire consumed his house, he asked her, "Honey, can you do a fundraiser in two weeks?'' She said, "Sure. My son is in Fallujah, my house has burned down, how many people do you want to invite?''

That is a great story about a conservative political family. I like his story and his Reaganesque background.

[Gelato]

Right. But the question is, what will Duncan Hunter do if and when Rudy is nominated?

It's a tough question for all conservatives, particularly high-profile elected officials.

Will they put party above principle?

[Antoninus]

All 3 of them.

There are about 200 on my ping list, with another dozen or so being added each day. And at last count, there are at least three other DH ping lists in various stages of development. Certainly, this is just a drop in the bucket. But it's not bad for a guy who most of us just found out about two months ago.

There is interest in Hunter, despite the naysayers best efforts. It could go nowhere, or it could continue to grow. I plan to ride it out and see how far it gets. If it gets big enough that the politics-over-principles crowd wants on board, don't worry. They will be room for you.

[Antoninus]

No it was a good article and good for your guy.

At least you're honest. :-)

[william clark]

I'd be interested to know how the Freepers on your ping list break down geographically. One of the vacuous swipes at Hunter has been "nobody outside of California knows who he is."

[Antoninus]

Will they put party above principle?

If I were a Rudy supporter, I wouldn't count on it. All you have to do is think about the voter guides sent out by the traditional conservative special interest groups. Of the millions of these that go out and get tacked to refrigerators from the pro-2A, pro-life, pro-family, Christian, border control, etc. groups, NONE will endorse Giuliani.

And that, my friend, is a disaster for any Republican candidate.

George W. Bush got 15 million Evangelical votes in 2000 and barely won. Rudy will get a fraction of those--if any. He's a 38% candidate nation-wide.

[Registered]

I've said I will support Hunter if he is nominated (yes, I actually said that without snickering)

However, you and other Hunter supporters won't do the same for any other GOP candidate. It's politically hypocritical and borders on being a bunch of Sore-Duncanman.

[Antoninus]

One of the vacuous swipes at Hunter has been "nobody outside of California knows who he is."

I'm from NJ and I didn't know who he was. But once I found out and did some research, I was sold. The goal has to be to accelerate the 'finding out' process for conservatives out there....

[Registered]

He's a 38% candidate nation-wide.

Please provide the data that supports that comment.

[william clark]

That's what I'm interested in; to know how many seeds like yourself have been planted throughout the country in areas where local GOP organizations who haven't been indoctrinated into the Cult of the Current Frontrunners can be accessed and influenced to support Hunter's candidacy.

[Antoninus]

Please provide the data that supports that comment.

It's a hypothesis based on the fact that George H. W. Bush p!ssed off the base and got 38% of the vote in 1992. I predict that if Rudy gets the nod (God forbid), he'll be in the same boat--with a viable 3rd party candidate springing up on his right.

He might even do worse, considering the voter guide issue and the fact that recently converted Republicans in the South will be hard pressed to vote for and support a stridently liberal Yankee Republican. Rudy's politics is exactly the reason these new Republicans in the South left the Democrats to begin with.

For the record, I voted for George H. W. Bush in 1992 as the lesser of three evils. I won't vote for Giuliani if he's the candidate in 2008. He's an out-and-out liberal and I don't vote for liberals.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why did you change the title?

[Afronaut]

I received a package from Hunter 2008 yesterday. It was labeled THANK YOU, it contained 2 Bumberstickers and 4 buttons. I had to smile, this is so grass roots right now and has all the markings of taking off in the next 6 months.

Go Hunter!