Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The Race is on for the President of the United States of America!

PresidentPicker.com started some time ago as a website devoted to information about the USA Presidential Election, but clearly a blog is the best venue for this project.


This from Wikipedia:
to be edited soon....

Senator Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback, born September 12, 1956 in Kansas, senior Senator from that state. In April 2005, the Associated Press reported that Brownback, who is little known outside his home state, "is using a network of social conservatives and Christian activists to raise his profile" in such battleground states as Iowa and New Hampshire. On December 4, 2006, Brownback announced that he would form an exploratory committee.[1] On January 20, 2007 Brownback officially announced his candidacy. [2]

Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts
Mitt Romney, born March 12, 1947 in Michigan is the former Governor of Massachusetts. Romney did not seek a second term as Governor and has made numerous trips to primary states such as South Carolina, Michigan, and New Hampshire during recent years. Romney is running on his record as co-founder of Bain Capital, the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics, and as Governor of Massachusetts. Romney also worked with Massachusetts Democrats to pass a healthcare plan for all citizens of Massachusetts, which to require individuals to purchase private, market-based insurance plans to have healthcare. Although he ran as a moderate for the office of Governor of Massachusetts and during his failed Senate bid in 1994, he supported more conservative positions as his term progressed. He requested the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court put a measure amending the Massachusetts Constitution to ban gay marriage on the 2008 ballot.

Romney filed paperwork forming an exploratory on January 3, 2007, the day he left the governor's office.[3]

On January 9, Romney raised $6.5 million in his first fundraiser, beating both Giuliani and McCain's fundraising efforts ($1 and $2 million respectively).

Romney has already received major endorsements, including that of former Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert.

Romney officially announced his candidacy on February 13 at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan. [4] [5]


Representative Duncan Hunter
Duncan Hunter, born May 31, 1948 in Riverside, California, U.S. Representative from that state and former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Hunter formally announced his presidential candidacy in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 25, 2007. He is known for his strong stance against illegal immigration, support for the U.S. military, and opposition to free trade agreements like North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization. [6] He introduced H.R. 552, The Right to Life Act, "to implement equal protection... for the right to life of

Official candidates

Senator Joe Biden
Joe Biden, born November 20, 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator from Delaware and candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988, although he ceased active campaigning in 1987, before the first primaries. Biden first hinted that he might run in 2008 in a December 8, 2004 radio interview with host Don Imus, saying: "I'm going to proceed as if I'm going to run." Biden has repeatedly stated his intention to run, and did so as early as 21 March 2006. Biden's Federal Leadership PAC is "Unite Our States", which tracks Biden's public appearances and policy positions. On 7 January 2007 when asked by Tim Russert on Meet the Press "Are you running for President?" he responded, "I am running for President." He also said he plans to create an exploratory committee by the end of the month. [1][2][3] On January 31, 2007, he offically signed the papers with the FEC to run for president.

Senator Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd, was born May 27, 1944 in Connecticut and is a five-term U.S. Senator from that state. Dodd was reported to be a likely contender for the Democratic Vice President slot on John Kerry's ticket in 2004. In May 2006, Dodd said he has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008", including hiring staff, raising money and traveling around the country in the next few months to enlist support.[4] On Jan. 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Don Imus in the Morning" radio show.[5]

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton, born October 26, 1947 in Illinois, U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady of the United States. Clinton announced the formation of her exploratory committee on 20 January 2007 with a post on her website.[6] She has delivered several speeches which analysts say are intended to reach out to moderates. She has also been holding fundraising meetings, including meeting with women from Massachusetts, a key constituency of potential rival and 2004 nominee John Kerry. However, these activities are consistent with the lead up to a campaign for re-election to her Senate seat in 2006. Many Republicans appear to be hoping that Senator Clinton will run for President, presumably believing her to be a polarizing figure. If elected, Clinton would be the first woman president.

Clinton announced on January 20th 2007 that she will run in 2008 (the same day she announced the formation of an exploratory commitee). She has not yet filed all the official paperwork.


Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama, born August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Senator from Illinois. A "draft Obama" movement began with his well-received keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Obama was the featured speaker at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual steak fry, a political event favored by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the Iowa caucus. He was endorsed by talk show host Rachael Ray in 2006.[7] Various recent opinion polls have seen Obama's support rising, with him trailing only Hillary Clinton in several polls. If elected, he would become the first biracial and the first non-white president.

Obama announced on February 10, 2007 that he will run in 2008. He has not yet filed all the official paperwork.


Former Senator John Edwards
John Edwards, born June 10, 1953 in South Carolina, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2004 Democratic vice-presidential nominee. As a Presidential candidate, Edwards was famed for his populist message in his "Two Americas" Speech and also for his optimistic, positive attitude. This was evidenced by his refusal to attack his opponents. In the primaries, Sen. Edwards had strong come-from-behind showings in the crucial states of Iowa, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Georgia. He also won the North Carolina caucus and the South Carolina primary. Edwards has kept his Federal Leadership PAC, the One America Committee,[8] active to help Democrats across the nation win elections in the future. On February 5, 2005, Edwards spoke at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's fundraising dinner. On August 18, 2005, Edwards traveled to Waterloo, Iowa to deliver an address to the Iowa AFL-CIO, a potential key supporter in the Iowa caucus. On December 16, 2006, Democratic officials reported that Edwards has expressed his intention to run in 2008. [9] On December 26, 2006, Edwards announced his candidacy after a technical glitch launched his campaign website a day early.

Former Senator Mike Gravel
Mike Gravel, born May 13, 1930, in Springfield, Massachusetts. U.S. Senator from Alaska from 1969 to 1981 and an active candidate for Vice President in 1972. He was notable for advocating a guaranteed annual income, which he termed a "citizen's wage," of $5,000 per person, irrespective of whether the person worked. On April 13, 2006, Gravel announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. His policy announcements to date include support for direct democracy, FairTax and withdrawal from Iraq. His is considered a very longshot candidacy since former Sen. Gravel will be 78 years old at the time of the general election and will have been out of federal politics for almost three decades at the time of the election. Mike Gravel filed with the FEC in April according to various news sources.[10] [11] The FEC's site has listed his reports since July.[12]
  • U.S. Senator from Alaska: 1969–1981
  • Alaska State Representative: 1962-1966 (Speaker: 1965-1966)

Representative Dennis Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich, born October 8, 1946, Ohio Congressman and 2004 Democratic primary candidate. Kucinich got the second highest number of votes at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Kucinich threw his support behind John Kerry after losing the nomination, although a sizable number of Kucinich's delegates refused to follow suit. Dennis Kucinich is known for his opposition to the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. His plan to end US involvement in the Iraq War replaces US troops with UN troops so that there is no loss of military support for the Iraqi people. He favors creating a Department of Peace. Kucinich is currently campaigning to end the war in Iraq by trying to cut off funding, and he opposes going to war in Iran. Kucinich has received many awards over his career praising his courage and his work for the peace movement. He is also a favorite among youth activists on the left. On December 12, 2006, Kucinich announced his candidacy at an event at Cleveland's City Hall.[13]

Former Governer Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack, born December 13, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, former Governor of Iowa, Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. Vilsack will be succeeded as governor by Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver (D). Many suspected Vilsack was high on the list of potential running mates for John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential Election. He has recently been increasing his national exposure.[14][15] In 2005, Vilsack established Heartland PAC,[16]a political action committee aimed at electing Democratic Governors and other statewide candidates. Unlike the PACs of potential candidates, Heartland PAC is not a federal PAC and can not contribute to federal candidates. On November 9, 2006, Vilsack announced that he would be filing papers with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) to run for President.[17]



John McCain

Rudy Giuliani

Barack Obama

Joseph Biden

Christopher Dodd

John Edwards North Carolina

Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa and

Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico