Posted on 01/14/2008 2:45:59 PM PST by mdittmar
Lest you forget it, Rep. Duncan Hunter of the 52nd Congressional District of California is still running for president. In recent weeks, the Republican congressman's presence in the campaign has all but evaporated. He was barred from appearing at the New Hampshire debate moderated by Charlie Gibson and more recently was excluded from the Fox News debate in South Carolina.
But Hunter is still running for president, even if his campaign appearances have now been reduced to opening acts for the big players still in the game.
Last night, Hunter delivered a pro-family, pro-military stump speech at what appeared—by most measures—to be a campaign rally for Mitt Romney in Taylor, Mich., near Detroit.
Romney, who had been campaigning earlier in the day in upstate Michigan, was late to arrive. The crowd was getting restless. Kids were crawling on the floor, crinkling empty bags of potato chips, and unpeeling Romney bumper stickers and slapping them across their mouths. The press platform became a makeshift jungle gym for the impatient.
The local politicians passed a few minutes showing videos of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, designed to rally the Republican faithful. The videos were simple pastiches, involving spliced video cued up to catch the candidates in a state of double talk. Clinton aroused more indignation than Obama, but the overall reaction was somewhat muted. Then the lights came back on but still no Romney. So they talked about the horrors of the tax increases passed by the state's current Democratic governor, Jennifer Granholm. They talked about taking back control of the statehouse. By this time, around 6 p.m., an hour after the rally had begun, Romney was still missing, but Hunter had conveniently entered from the back of the auditorium, along with two women holding a massive "Duncan Hunter for President 08" banner. They shuffled off to the side wall and stood quietly. A few more local politicians said some additional words. Meanwhile, on stage behind them, a nice scene was unfolding. The American flag, attached by a set of small rings to a lattice of gray poles, was carried from stage right to the center, so it stood behind two rows of otherwise empty chairs. Then the chairs were filled, mostly with healthy-looking kids of various ages. The audience, sensing something was happening, began to perk up. The event coordinator returned to the microphone and started on another introduction. Had Romney arrived?
"This is a man who decided to swim against the tide," she was saying—perhaps a reference to Romney's Mormon missionary work?—"who puts his body where his beliefs are"—a bit more cryptic?—"who went to University of California-Los Angeles"—what?—"And, of course, that man is Duncan Hunter."
Hunter got up, talked about some of the issues at stake, thanked a few people, mentioned his son's bid for Congress, and moved back to the wings. And the local politicians started talking again. Romney showed up around 7:15 p.m.
The same thought came to mind when I read Reply #7. Totally stupid reply.
Why? Because he's a true blue conservative who would be good for this country?
What state has Romney won? Michigan is going to go for McCain or Huckster. If Romney doesn't win MI, he is OUT of the race - MI is winner-takes-all. There is no prize for being in 2nd place. And there's no way he'll win SC or FL.
If he’s still in before I go cast my vote tomorrow morning, I’ll vote for him.
Never before have I felt so disgusted before a primary. I will *NOT* vote for McCain or Rudy. I will be hauled to the wall kicking and screaming to vote for Romney or Huckabee, and I’m less than thrilled with Thompson. At least with Ron Paul I know where he stands, but I’m still not voting for him.
At least the primary will be over tomorrow and there’s nothing left to do but watch for cries of voter fraud, whines about ID requirements and disenfranchisement from Detroit.
Bleh.
So you think it's funny for Romney to leave his supporters hanging like he was Bill Clinton? Being all late and thinking it's fashionable?
As long as he’s in the race, I’m voting for him.
Politics is weird this year, isn’t it?
I love what Duncan stand for!
Don’t listen to the naysayers. They don’t want the spotlight off their candidates. LOL This race is still wide open.
I never do.
Not seriously anyway!
It sure is, especially here in MI. The Dem ballot is a mess -- everyone pulled off their names except Hillary, Kuchinich (who tried), Mike Gravel and Richardson (who dropped out). Write-ins will spoil the ballot and lots of crossover votes to mess with the GOP are expected.
Many educated people have fled the state and most of what's left are those on welfare, auto workers haunting idle plants, overpaid educators and government managers. The budget mess last fall made Michigan a joke and we're expected to see 8.5% unemployment this year.
I think I've got a case of political burnout. Once the primary is over I'm tuning out for a few months.
I'm STILL glad we don't have a landline phone.
No, but it is funny that you have a candidate in a race warming up the crowd for one of his opponents.
Duncan Hunter’s record.. This so called conservative fought with Ted Kennedy to hike the minimum wage, and fought with Clinton to support the white al-qaeda in Bosnia.
He also has numerous votes for Energy Welfare, against GOP spending cuts, and a long line of votes against Capitalism..
The “Great Conservative” Duncan Hunter.
He’s only a true blue conservative to those who were fooled into believing so.
That is the spin. He was invited to speak there, and it was one of many engagements Hunter has had in Michigan.
You love supporting the White Al-Qaeda in Bosnia?!?! You support anti-Capitalism laws? You support the government mandating how much business can pay their employees??
Pretty sick.
I thought he won Wyoming.
And you'll post the records of his votes to back up your claims, right? The records I've seen contradict your smears.
I wish I was disciplined enough to ignore it for a while.
Where I live, the mayoral vote was perfectly tied.
There was a recount and the other guy won.
He is in office now, and the original winner(I did not vote for him)is filing suit or something.
The disputed term will be over before they ever iron that mess out!
I’m voting for Duncan Hunter as long as he is in the race. After that, I will support Fred. Not sure what I will do if Duncan and Fred both drop out. I can’t stand the rest.
Who is the least dangerous candidate if Duncan and Fred are not in the race?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.