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DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF SARASOTA
PO Box 51076
Sarasota, FL 34232
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2008 Democratic presidential candidates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article lists official and potential Democratic candidates for the President of the United States in the election of 2008.
| 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 officially signed the papers with the FEC to run for president.
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Senator Hillary Clinton
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- See also: Political positions of 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.[4] 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 female president. Clinton announced on January 20, 2007, that she will run in 2008 (the same day she announced the formation of an exploratory committee). She has filed the official paperwork for an exploratory committee.[5]
Web Site: www.hillaryclinton.com
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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.[6] On Jan. 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Imus in the Morning" radio show with Don Imus.[7]
Web Site: www.chrisdodd.com
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Former Senator John Edwards |
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- See also: Political positions of 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, 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 26, 2006, Edwards formally announced his candidacy.[8]
Web Site: www.johnedwards.com
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Former Senator Mike Gravel |
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- See also: Political positions of 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.[9][10] The FEC's site has listed his reports since July.[11]
- Alaska State Representative: 1962-1966 (Speaker: 1965-1966)
- U.S. Senator from Alaska: 1969–1981
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Representative Dennis Kucinich |
Dennis Kucinich, born October 8, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio. Ohio Congressman, former Mayor of Cleveland, and 2004 Democratic primary candidate.
Dennis Kucinich is known by many as "The Peace Candidate", having received the 2003 Gandhi Peace Award. Kucinich opposed the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. Under Kucinich's plan, United Nations peace-keepers would go to Iraq if the Iraqi citizens desire their presence. Congressman Kucinich re-introduced legislation to create a United States Department of Peace via HR 808 on February 5, 2007. Dennis is currently campaigning to end the war in Iraq by cutting off funding, if such measure is necessary. He is in support of peaceful diplomatic relations with Iran, and all nations. Dennis has received many awards praising his courage and work for peace[citation needed]. On December 12, 2006, Kucinich announced his candidacy at an event at Cleveland's City Hall.[12]
Web Site: www.kucinich.us
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Senator Barack Obama |
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- See also: Political positions of 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 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address. 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 Oprah Winfrey in 2006.[13] 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 African-American President of the United States. Obama announced on February 10, 2007, that he will run in 2008. He has filed the official paperwork.[14]
Web Site: www.barackobama.com
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Governor Bill Richardson |
Bill Richardson, born November 15, 1947, in California, Governor of New Mexico, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy and U.S. Representative. After reportedly informing party leaders in February 2005 of his intention to run for president, on December 7, 2006, Richardson said "I am running" during his response to a prospective question about the 2008 presidential election by Fox News, however he later retracted the decision and said he would make an official decision by January. A Draft Richardson movement is now active.Recently on The Daily Show, Bill Richardson stated that he was definitely running for President.[15] He has formed an exploratory committee.[16] If elected he would be the first Hispanic American to hold Presidential Office.
Web Site: www.richardsonforpresident.com
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[edit] Potential Notable Candidates Without Exploratory Committees
| Potential candidates without exploratory committees |
General Wesley Clark (Ret.) |
Wesley Clark, born December 23, 1944, in Illinois, a Vietnam war veteran, a retired United States Army four-star general and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. He graduated first in his class from West Point. Clark is traveling widely through his Federal Leadership PAC WesPAC,[17] and is a commentator on FOX News, while grassroots campaigns for Clark have become active on the internet.[18] Clark was a 2004 Presidential candidate as well, narrowly winning the Oklahoma primary. During a January 17, 2007, speech given to a local UAW group in Alabama and posted on YouTube, Clark stated "when I run, I'll be the national security candidate."[19] |
Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States |
Al Gore is a former U.S. Vice President from Tennessee and was the 2000 Democratic nominee. Gore and his family have commented upon whether or not Gore would participate as a candidate in the 2008 presidential election. Gore was quoted in December 2006 as stating on NBC's "Today,": "I am not planning to run for president again [...] I haven't completely ruled it out."[20] His son, Albert Gore III, followed with a comment in the 14 December 2006 article "Albert Gore: Dad's Doing Well, Not Running in 2008":"I know that [my father] has no plans to run in 2008 [...] Well, I guess I have to add his addendum. I think the way he always says it is, 'I don't see any circumstances under which I would run for president."[21]
Many people believe that Gore is campaigning for president as a "non-candidate" with "An Inconvenient Truth," Live Earth Concerts, and even plans to run, but has not formally announced it so the other candidates will not hurt his reputation. Despite stating that he is not planning to run, Donna Brazile, Gore's campaign chairwoman in the 2000 campaign, made a series of cryptic comments during a speech on January 31, 2007, at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania which referred to the Academy Award nomination for An Inconvenient Truth. She said "Wait till Oscar night, I tell people: 'I'm dating. I haven't fallen in love yet. On Oscar night, if Al Gore has slimmed down 25 or 30 pounds, Lord knows." An Inconvenient Truth, won the 2007 Academy Award for Documentary Feature and Gore joined director Davis Guggenheim and other members of the cast on stage during the Academy Awards and gave a brief speech.[22] The Agence France-Presse, noted the day after the Academy Awards, on 26 February 2007, that:"Many analysts believe he could yet enter the 2008 race for the White House although Gore has repeatedly said he is unlikely to run for office."[23] In addition, in the 26 February 2007 edition of The Nation, John Nichols noted of Gore's speech at the Academy Awards:
- "No, Al Gore did not make any major announcements Sunday night. But he certainly did not still speculation about the prospect that he might yet enter the 2008 presidential race. The former vice president was never going to use the Academy Awards ceremony as a launching pad for a third presidential bid. In fact, no one familiar with the man could have imagined him even pondering such a stunt."[24]
As of 2007, Gore's popularity has increased amongst progressives and supporters of the Democratic Party since his loss to George W. Bush following the close 2000 election.[25][26] Gore received 68% of support among potential 2008 Democratic presidential candidates on a May 2006 Daily Kos poll[27] of those who voted, and 35% on July 13, 2006, AlterNet poll.[28] When compared to other candidates, Gore is usually third on most polls. A Gallup poll of August 2006 showed that nearly half of Americans currently view Gore favorably (48 percent to 45 percent).[29][30] A CNN telephone poll conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation of registered or independent leaning Democrats in November 2006 has Gore with 14% support in a theoretical multi-candidate Democratic primary.[31] A poll of Democratic Iowa voters in light of the 2008 Iowa Caucus put Gore at 7%.[32] In a recent California Field poll, Gore is second at 25%, behind Hillary Clinton by 6 percentage points. However, in the California Bay Area, Gore is the leading candidate.[1] Gore also has the highest approval rating when compared to other Democratic nominees.
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