Sen. John McCain (AZ): Senate Office, John McCain 2008, Straight Talk America PAC, (P2000 page), Independent Site: The McCain Movement, Opposition Site: Stop John McCain, more
Legislation: 109th, 108th, 107th, 106th, 105th, 104th....; Project Vote Smart

[**Announced candidacy on April 25, 2007; filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Nov. 16, 2006]  Candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 1986, re-elected in 1992, 1998 and 2004.  Elected to the U.S. House in 1982, re-elected in 1984. Twenty-two years in the military, retiring from the service in 1981.  A naval aviator, he was shot down over Vietnam in 1967 and spent the next five and a half years as a POW.  Awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross. Graduate of the Naval Academy, 1958.  Born August 29, 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone.
 

Former Candidates
Rep. Ron Paul (TX): House Office, Ron Paul 2008, The Committee to Re-elect Ron Paul 2006, Independent Sites: Daily Paul, RonPaulHQ

Dr. Alan Keyes: We Need Alan Keyes for President, Inc., RenewAmerica

[**Announced candidacy on Sept. 14, 2007; announced he was leaving the Republican Party on April 15, 2008]  Chairman of RenewAmerica, "a grassroots organization that supports the 'Declarationist' ideals of Alan Keyes."  2004 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois against Barack Obama.  Sought the 2000 Republican presidential nomination.  Hosted "The Alan Keyes Show: America's Wake Up Call," a nationally syndicated radio talk show, 1997-99. Founder (1996) and chairman of the Declaration Foundation, a 501(c)(3).  Sought the 1996 Republican presidential nomination.  1992 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Maryland against Sen. Barbara Mikulski.  President of Citizens Against Government Waste, 1989-91.  1988 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Maryland, garnering 38 percent of the vote against Sen. Paul Sarbanes.  Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations, 1985-87.  U.S. Representative (ambassador rank) to the United Nations Social and Economic Council, 1983-85.  Foreign service officer and State Department service, 1978-83.  Harvard University B.A., Ph.D. in Government Studies, 1979.  Born August 7, 1950 in New York, NY.
 

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (AR): Huckabee for President Election Committee, Inc., NGA Healthy America Initiative, Independent Site: Huckabee for President blog

[**Filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 29, 2007; announced withdrawal on Mar. 4, 2008]  Became Governor on July 15, 1996, following the resignation of Gov. Jim Guy Tucker.  Elected Governor in 1998 and 2002.  Term limited; not eligible to seek re-election in 2006, finished term on Jan. 9, 2007.  Chairman of the National Governors Association, July 2005-6.  Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, 1993-96.  President of Cambridge Communications in Texarkana, 1992-96.  President of KBSC-TV, a 24 hour UHF channel in Texarkana, 1987-92.  President of the Arkansas State Baptist Convention, 1989-91.  Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, 1980-86.  Graduate of Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia, 1977 and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.  Born August 24, 1955 in Hope, AR.
 

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (MA): Romney for President, Inc., Independent Sites: Elect Mitt Romney President in 2008 Blog, Americans for Mitt, more

[**Announced candidacy on Feb. 13, 2007; filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory commitee on Jan. 3, 2007; suspended campaign on Feb. 7, 2008 and endorsed McCain on Feb. 14, 2008]  Elected Governor in Nov. 2002; did not seek re-election and served through Jan. 2007.  President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, 1999-2002.  Republican nominee for United States Senate, 1994.  CEO of Bain Capital, Inc., which he founded in 1984.  A Vice President of Bain & Company, Inc., a Boston-based management consulting firm, 1978-84.  MBA from Harvard Business School and JD from Harvard Law School, both in 1975.  B.A. from Brigham Young University, 1971.  Born 1947 in Michigan (son of George Romney who served three terms as Governor of Michigan).
 

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani (NY): Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, Inc., Giuliani Partners, Bracewell & Giuliani, Independent Sites: Giuliani Blog, Draft Rudy Giuliani, Inc., rudyforpresidentblog

[**Filed with New York State to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Nov. 10, 2006; filed with the FEC on Nov. 20, 2006; announced withdrawal on Jan. 30, 2008]  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Giuliani Partners LLC, which he founded in January 2002. Partner at Bracewell & Giuliani (announced March 2005; formerly Bracewell & Patterson). Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2001.  Withdrew from U.S. Senate race in May 2000 citing prostate cancer.  Elected Mayor of the City of New York in Nov. 1993, re-elected in 1997.  Ran for Mayor of New York City in 1989, losing by the narrowest margin in the City's history.  Appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, 1983.  Appointed Associate Attorney General, 1981.  Practiced law at Patterson, Belknap, Webb and Tyler, 1977-81.  Served two years in Washington as Associate Deputy Attorney General and chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General. Joined the U.S. Attorney's office in 1970; served as Chief of the Narcotics Unit and rose to executive U.S. Attorney.   Graduate of Manhattan College, 1965 and New York University Law School, 1968.  Born May 28, 1944 in Brooklyn, NY.
 

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (TN): Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc., The Fred Thompson Report (ABC Radio Networks), Independent Sites: Draft Fred Thompson

[**Announced candidacy on Sept. 6, 2007; formed testing the waters committee at the beginning of June 2007; announced withdrawal on Jan. 22, 2008]  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 8, 1994 special election; re-elected in 1996, did not seek re-election in 2002 and served through Jan. 2003.  Has appeared in numerous television episodes and motion pictures, for example appearing in over 100 episodes of "Law and Order;" started his motion picture career in 1985 playing himself in "Marie."  Special counsel to Gov. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), 1980; special counsel the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations 1980-81; special counsel to the  Senate Intelligence Committee, 1982.  Minority counsel on the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (“Watergate Committee”), 1973-74.  Assistant U.S. attorney, 1969-72.  Practiced law.  Undergraduate degree in philosophy and political science from Memphis State University, 1964; J.D. from Vanderbilt University, 1967.  Author of At That Point in Time: The Inside Story of the Senate Watergate Committee (Quadrangle/New York Times Book Co., 1975).
 

Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA): House Office, Hunter for President, Inc., Peace Through Strength PAC, Committee to Re-elect Congressman Duncan Hunter

[**Announced candidacy on Jan. 25, 2007; filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 12, 2007; announced withdrawal on Jan. 19, 2008]  Represents California's 52nd Congressional District consisting of eastern and northern San Diego County.  Elected to a 14th term in Congress in Nov. 2006.  Chaired the House Armed Services Committee in the 108th and 109th Congresses.  First elected to Congress in 1980, defeating Democratic incumbent Lionel Van Deerlin.  Attorney in private practice in Barrio Logan San Diego.  J.D. and B.S.L from Western State University Law School in San Diego, 1976.  Vietnam veteran; served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers, 1969-71.  Born May 31, 1948 in Riverside, CA.
 

Rep. Tom Tancredo (CO): House Office, Tancredo for a Secure America, Team America PAC, 2006 re-election campaign; Independent Sites: tancredo4prez.blogspot.com

[**Announced  formation of a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 16, 2007; announced candidacy on April 2, 2007; announced withdrawal on Dec. 20, 2007]  Re-elected to a fifth term in 2006; represents Colorado's 6th Congressional District.  First elected to Congress in 1998.  President of the Independence Institute, a libertarian think tank based in Golden, 1993-98.   Served at the U.S. Department of Education during the Reagan and Bush administrations.  State Representative, 1976-81.  Teacher at Drake Junior High School.  B.A. in political science from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, 1968.  Born December 20, 1945 in North Denver, CO.
 

Sen. Sam Brownback (KS): Senate Office, Brownback for President; Independent Site: Catholics for Senator Sam Brownback; Opposition Site: The Anti-Sam
Legislation: 109th, 108th, 107th, 106th, 105th; Project Vote Smart

[**Filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Dec. 4, 2006; announced candidacy on Jan. 20, 2007; announced withdrawal on Oct. 19, 2007]  Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996 (in the Republican primary he defeated Shiela Frahm, who had been appointed to complete Bob Dole's term); elected to a full six year term in 1998; re-elected in 2004.  Elected to Congress in 1994, representing the Kansas 2nd CD.  Selected as Kansas Secretary of Agriculture in 1986 and served in the position for seven years.  Co-author of Kansas Agricultural Law (Lone Tree Pub Co, 1994).  Law degree from the University of Kansas, 1982; B.S. in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University, 1979.   Born September 12, 1956 in Garnett, KS.
 

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson (WI): Tommy Thompson for President, Akin Gump, Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, LHI, Tommy G. Thompson Collection at Marquette University, (P2000 page)

[**Filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Dec. 13, 2006; announced candidacy on April 4, 2007; announced withdrawal on Aug. 12, 2007]  Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.  Chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.  President of Logistics Health Incorporated of La Crosse, WI (named to the position in Feb. 2005).  ("LHI designs, implements and manages occupational health services, medical and dental readiness services, and secure data management for the U.S military and DHHS, as well as numerous commercial companies.")  Health and Human Services Secretary, sworn in Feb. 2, 2001 served to Jan. 2005.  Served 14 years as Governor of Wisconsin; first elected in 1986 and re-elected in 1990, 1994, 1998; resigned in Jan. 2001 to become HHS Secretary.  Unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 1979.  Elected to the Wisconsin Assembly in 1966 and re-elected ten consecutive times; elected assistant minority leader in 1973 and Republican floor leader in 1981.  B.S. (1963) and J.D. (1966) from University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Born November 19, 1941 in Elroy, WI.
 

Former Gov. Jim Gilmore (VA): Gilmore for President, LLC., Kelley Drye Collier Shannon, National Council on Readiness and Preparedness (NCORP), USA Secure; Independent Site: Draft Gilmore for President

[**Filed with the FEC to establish a presidential exploratory committee on Jan. 9, 2007; announced candidacy on April 26, 2007; announced withdrawal on July 14, 2007]  Partner at the law firm of Kelley Drye Collier Shannon.  Chairman of the National Council on Readiness and Preparedness.  Chaired the Congressional Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction ("Gilmore Commission"), 1999-2003.  Chaired the RNC from Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2002, while Governor.  Elected Governor of Virginia in 1997 and served one term, 1998-2002.  Elected Virginia Attorney General in 1993.  Elected Commonwealth’s Attorney in Henrico County in 1987 and re-elected in 1991.  Attorney in private practice.  Graduate of the University of Virginia Law School, 1977.  Three-year tour as a U.S. Army counterintelligence agent in West Germany.  Undergraduate degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia in 1971.   Born October 6, 1949 in Richmond, VA.
 

John Cox (IL): Cox 2008, interview

[**Announced Feb. 2006.]  Chicago area lawyer, accountant and businessman.  Ran for chair of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee in January 2005.  Ran for Cook County Recorder of Deeds in Nov. 2004.  Briefly sought the 2004 Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Illinois (announced July 2003, withdrew Oct. 2003).  Ran for the 2002 Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Illinois (finished third with about 23% of the vote).  Ran for the Republican nomination in Illinois' 10th CD in 2000 to succeed retiring Rep. John Porter (finished fifth of ten candidates).  Hosted a radio program called "The Progressive Conservative" on WJJG-AM (1530).  On the Illinois Steering Committee of Jack Kemp's 1988 presidential campaign.  Started Cox Financial Group, Ltd., an investment advisory firm in 1985; Equity Property Management, L.L.C., a real estate management company in 1995; and a venture capital firm.  Started a law and accounting firm in 1981.  Associate at Devoe, Shadur & Krupp.  J.D. from IT/Chicago Kent College of Law, 1980.  Graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Accounting and Political Science.  Born July 15, 1955 in Chicago, IL.
 

Not In
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich: www.Newt.org, Center for Health Transformation, American Solutions for Winning the Future, Independent Site: DraftNewt.org

[Announced on Sept. 29, 2007 that he will not run for president in 2008]  Founder and chairman of American Solutions for Winning the Future, a 527-organization.  Founder of the Center for Health Transformation, begun in 2003 as a project of the Gingrich Group.  Chairman of the Gingrich Group, a communications and consulting firm he founded in 1999.  Senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Time Magazine's Man of the Year in 1995.  Elected Speaker of the U.S. House in 1995 and served to Jan. 1999.  In 1994, Gingrich drew up the "Contract with America" that helped Republicans gain a majority in the U.S. House for the first time since 1954.  Elected to Congress in 1978, after unsuccessful campaigns in 1974 and 1976.  Professor of History and Environmental Studies at West Georgia College, 1970-78.  Master's (1968) and doctoral (1971) degrees in Modern European History from Tulane University.  Bachelor's degree from Emory University, 1965.  Born June 17, 1943 in Harrisburg, PA.
 

Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE): Senate Office, Sandhills PAC, Hagel for Senate Committee, Independent Site: Chuck Hagel for President blog
Legislation: 109th, 108th, 107th, 106th, 105th; Project Vote Smart

[Announced on Sept. 10, 2007 that he would not seek re-election nor run for president in 2008; announced March 12, 2007 that he would "make a decision on my political future later this year."]  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 1996, re-elected in 2002.  President of McCarthy & Co., an investment banking firm based in Omaha, Nebraska.  President and CEO of World United Service Organizations.  Co-founded VANGUARD Cellular Systems, Inc., a publicly traded corporation, in the mid-1980s.  Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration, nominated by President Reagan in 1981. Manager of Government Affairs for The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Washington, DC, 1977-80. Administrative Assistant to Congressman John Y. McCollister (R-NE), 1971-77.  Newscaster and talk show host with radio stations KBON and KLNG in Omaha starting in 1969. Served in Vietnam in 1968, two Purple Hearts.  Graduate of the the Brown Institute for Radio and Television in Minneapolis and University of Nebraska at Omaha.  Born Oct. 4, 1946 in North Platte, NE.
 

Former Gov. George Pataki (NY): 21st Century Freedom PAC, Friends of Pataki

[Active in 2005-06, but stepped back on Jan. 30, 2007 while still leaving the door open]  Elected Governor in Nov. 1994, defeating Mario Cuomo; re-elected 1998 and 2002; did not seek re-election in 2006, and served through Jan. 1, 2007.  (Following the Nov. 2004 elections, Pataki held the distinction of being the longest serving governor in the United States).  Elected to the State Senate in 1992.  Elected to the State Assembly four times.  Elected Mayor of Peekskill in 1981, re-elected 1983.  Graduate of Yale University, 1967 and Columbia Law School, 1970.  Born June 24, 1945 on the family farm in Peekskill, NY.
 

Former Gov. Frank Keating (OK): American Council of Life Insurers

[Ruled out a presidential run on  on Jan. 16, 2007; as reported by The Oklahoman ("It's just not the right thing for me to do at this time.”)  Keating visited South Carolina on Dec. 20, 2006.]  President and CEO of the American Council of Life Insurers since January 2003.  Elected Governor of Oklahoma in 1994 and re-elected in 1998.  Continued in the Bush (senior) Administration as Associate Attorney General and then General Counsel and Acting Deputy Secretary of HUD.  Served in the Reagan Administration as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and later Associate Attorney General.  U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, 1981-85.  Served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1973-75 and the Oklahoma Senate from 1975-81.  FBI special agent.  B.A. in history from Georgetown University, 1966 and J.D. from the University of Oklahoma, 1969.  Born Feb. 10, 1944, in St. Louis, MO, grew up in Tulsa, OK, now resident of McLean, VA.  Author of two childrens books, biographies of Will Rogers and Theodore Roosevelt.  [The Associated Press reported in Dec. 2006 that Keating had been thinking about a possible run following Sen. George Allen's loss in the midterm elections.]
 

Sen. Bill Frist, M.D. (TN): Senate Office, Volunteer PAC
Legislation: 109th, 108th, 107th, 106th, 105th, 104th; Project Vote Smart

[Ruled out a 2008 presidential run on Nov. 29, 2006]  Did not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2006.  Senate Majority Leader for four years; elected on Dec. 23, 2002.  Chairman of the NRSC in the 107th Congress.  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 1994, re-elected in 2000.  Joined the faculty at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1985; founded and directed the Vanderbilt Transplant Center.  Surgical training at Massachusetts General Hospital; Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, England; and Stanford University Medical Center.  Graduate of Princeton University, 1974 and Harvard Medical School, 1978.  Born Feb. 22, 1952 in Nashville, TN.
 

Sen. George Allen (VA): Senate Office, Friends of George Allen, Good Government for America Committee, Independent Site: Students4Allen
Legislation: 109th, 108th, 107th; Project Vote Smart

Defeated in bid for a second term in Nov. 2006.  Chairman of the NRSC in the 108th Congress.  Elected to the U.S. Senate in Nov. 2000.  Partner, McGuire Woods starting in 1998.  Elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Nov. 1993, served one term,1994-98, term limited.  U.S. Representative, 1991-93, elected in a special election.  Served in the Virginia House of Delegates, 1983-91.  Republican nominee for the Virginia House of Delegates, 1979.  Worked in private law practice, 1978-91.  B.A. in History (1974) and J.D. (1977) from the University of Virginia.  Born March 8, 1952 in Whittier, CA.
 

Gov. Haley Barbour (MS): Governor's Office, Barbour for Governor (2003 campaign)
Gov. Mark Sanford (SC): Governor's Office
Sen. Rick Santorum (PA): Senate Office, Santorum 2006, America's Foundation; Independent Site: Stop Santorum Now (Stonewall Democrats)
Vice President Dick Cheney (WY): Vice President's Office
Gov. Bill Owens (CO): Governor's Office, Center for a New American Century
Gov. Jeb Bush (FL): Governor's Office
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (CA): Governor's Office, Schwarzenegger.com, Amend for Arnold
 
 

Also Mentioned
Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice: Department of State, Independent Sites: www.4condi.com (Americans for Dr. Rice), Condipundit, more

Became the 66^th Secretary of State on January 26, 2005.  Previously served as President Bush's National Security Advisor (formally Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs) starting on Jan. 22, 2001. Provost of Stanford University for six year term through June 1999.  Director, and then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and a Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, 1989 to March 1991.  Professor of political science at Stanford University, joined the faculty in 1981.  Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Denver, 1974; master's from the University of Notre Dame, 1975; and Ph.D. from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, 1981.   Born November 14, 1954 in Birmingham, AL.
 

Rep. Mike Pence (IN): House Office, House Republican Study Committee, 2006 re-election campaign; Independent Sites: Pence08.com, Draft Pence Movement

Re-elected to a fourth term in 2006; represents Indiana's 6th CD (14 counties and parts of 5 others in east-central Indiana including Muncie and the Indiana suburbs of Cincinnati, OH).  Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee for the 109th Congress (elected in Sept. 2004).  First elected to Congress in 2000.  Started career in radio broadcasting in 1992; syndicated statewide by Network Indiana in 1994.  Named president of Indiana Policy Review Foundation, a conservative state think tank based in Fort Wayne, in 1991 (continued through 1994).  Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1988 and 1990.  Attorney in private practice, 1986-90.  J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, 1986.  Graduate of Hanover College with a degree in American history, 1981.  Born in Columbus, IN.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME): Senate Office, 2006 re-election campaign; Independent Site: OlympiaSnowe2008.com

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994 and re-elected in 2000 and 2006.  Elected to Congress in 1978.  Elected to the Maine Senate in 1976.  Elected to the Maine House, representing her home town of Auburn, in 1973 to the seat left vacant by the death of her first husband; re-elected in 1974.  Undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Maine in 1969.  Born Feb. 21, 1947, in Augusta, ME.
 
 

Copyright © 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action