Potential Democratic candidates in the 2008 U.S. presidential election
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While it is rare for candidates for President of the United States to officially declare their candidacy prior to late in the year preceding the presidential election (in this case, 2007), some potential Democratic candidates have expressed their interest in running in the 2008 presidential election and are listed below. At this early stage, many of the strongest candidates might have yet to emerge, and these lists include few of the political figures who excite speculation amongst political activists, insiders, and media commentators.
Contents
Announced Candidates
- :::* Joe Biden, born November 20 1942 in Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator from Delaware and 1988 Democratic primary candidate. Biden first hinted that he might run in a December 8, 2004 radio interview with host Don Imus, saying: "I'm going to proceed as if I'm going to run." Subsequent to dropping other suggestions over ensuing months, Biden officially declared his presidential candidacy on March 21, 2006. Biden's Federal Leadership PAC is "Unite Our States", which tracks Biden's public appearances and policy positions. [link], [link] [link]
- :::* Christopher Dodd, born May 27 1944 in Connecticut and US 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. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms. 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. [link].
- :::* 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.
Potential candidates
- :::* Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President from Tennessee, and the 2000 Democratic nominee. In early 2005, reports, including that from Chris Matthews [link] and CBS News [link], said that Gore was considering a run in 2008. Gore has said several times that he doesn't "intend" to be a candidate again, but can't rule it out. In the summer of 2006, he became the subject of a documentary entitled An Inconvenient Truth which followed his post-Vice Presidential activities as an environmental activist.
- :::*Evan Bayh, born December 26 1955 in Indiana, former two-term Governor and currently a second-term U.S. Senator from that state. In February of 2005, Bayh renamed his Federal Leadership PAC the All America PAC[link] and hired a new veteran staff with experience on the 2004 campaigns of John Kerry and Wesley Clark for President and Tom Daschle for senate.[link] His new staff includes New Hampshire political operative Steve Bouchard, his deputy Chris Smith, longtime Democratic fundraiser Nancy Jacobson, and informal advisor Ronald Klain.
- :::* Wesley Clark, born December 23 1944 in Illinois, retired United States Army four-star general and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. Clark is traveling widely through his Federal Leadership PAC WesPAC [link], and is a commentator on FOX News, while grassroots campaigns for Clark have become active on the internet [link]. Clark was a 2004 Presidential candidate as well.
- :::* Hillary Rodham Clinton, born October 26 1947 in Illinois, U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady of the United States. While frequently asked by media interviewers about her plans for 2008, she has remained noncommital, saying she is now focusing on her upcoming re-election campaign in 2006. In spite of this, polling organizations generally include her on polls involving likely candidates. She has delivered several speeches, including one on abortion, which analysts say are intended to reach out to moderates. She has also been a consistent, vocal supporter of America's participation in the Iraq war, perhaps as part of an effort to shake perceptions of being overly liberal. She has also been holding fundraising meetings, including meeting with women from Massachusetts, a key constituency of potential rival and 2004 nominee John Kerry.(a) 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 desire Hillary Clinton's candidacy for President, presumably believing her to be a polarizing figure and thus easy to defeat. The popular parody newspaper The Onion ran a headline commenting on this attitude, asking "Could Hillary Clinton Have What It Takes To Defeat The Democrats In 2008?" Her Federal Leadership PAC is HILLPAC.[link]
- :::* Tom Daschle, born December 9 1947 in South Dakota, former U.S. Senator from that state. He has set up a new political action committee and plans a Jefferson-Jackson Day speech in the politically pivotal state of Iowa. Daschle has transferred $500,000 into the new Federal Leadership PAC, New Leadership for America.[link] In July 2005, Daschle said he was not planning a rematch against his successor John Thune in 2010 and he told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper that he was seriously considering a run and would not "rule out the possibility of an official announcement in the near future". [link]
- :::* John Edwards, born June 10 1953 in South Carolina, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina and 2004 Democratic vice-presidential candidate. As a Presidential candidate Edwards was famed for his populist message in his "Two Americas" Speech and also for being one of the most optimistic candidates seen in a long time. This was evidenced by his refusal to attack his opponents. In the primaries Sen. Edwards had strong come-from-behind showings and nearly winning in the crucial states of Iowa, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Georgia. He also won the North Carolina and South Carolina primaries. And Edwards has kept his Federal Leadership PAC, the One America Committee [link], 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. Officially, Edwards refuses to say whether he will run in 2008. [link]
- :::* Russ Feingold, born March 2 1953 in Wisconsin, U.S. Senator from that state. Announced to a meeting of the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County, Florida, in January 2005 that he was considering a run for the nomination, and would decide after "going around the country" to campaign for fellow Democrats running for other offices [link]. His Federal Leadership PAC is the Progressive Patriots Fund [link], which will be financing his travels around the country [link]. In early March 2005, his Senate campaign registered the domain name for the Web site [www.russfeingold08.com] as well as the .org and .net versions [link]. Later that month, he took a listening trip to Alabama. [link] In early April of 2005, Feingold announced that he would be divorcing his second wife, a move which some analysts believe could diminish his chances of winning the presidential nomination. Others, such as blogger Markos Moulitsas Zúniga (better known as "Kos"), have disagreed, pointing to successful Republican political figures with multiple divorces, most notably conservative arch-icon Ronald Reagan who, to-date, is the only president to have been divorced. Moreover, throughout 2005, divorces actually remained highest among die-hard-GOP born-again states.[link][link] On August 17, 2005, Feingold became the first U.S. Senator to publicly support a firm date for withdrawal from the Iraq war [link], suggesting December 31, 2006 as a reasonable date. Although Feingold's stance was generally criticized by other Democratic senators, including Biden and Clinton, his support in nonscientific internet polls of party activists jumped. In December 2005 when he led the Senate defeat of the renewal of the Patriot Act his support among party activists further intensified.
- :::* John Kerry, born December 11 1943 in Denver, Colorado, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic presidential nominee. On March 1, 2005, Kerry created a new Federal Leadership PAC, Keeping America's Promise[link], which he plans to use to maintain national visibility and political viability. [link] Kerry has recruited several top staffers to run it including John Giesser, the No. 2 operative at the DNC in 2000 and 2004, and Jay Dunn, who served as DNC finance director, to manage its finances. Also involved are Jenny Backus and Leigh Garland who worked under Terry McAuliffe and long-time Kerry fundraisers Josh Warren and Jon Patsavos. "That’s a very, very high-powered team that he’s keeping in place. You don’t generally spend those kind of resources and put that effort in building the A team to run for another term in the U.S. Senate," said former DNC chairman Steve Grossman. [link] Dan Payne, a Democratic strategist, told the Washington Post that "This is the kind of thing he has to do" in order to run for President in 2008 [link]. Through Keeping America's Promise, Kerry has raised $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2006 from 11,000 donors nationally. [link] Kerry told CNN, with respect to a run in 2008, "it's crazy to be thinking about it now" but went on to say that "I'll make my judgment when the time comes and I don't care what history says." [link] Kerry raised eyebrows when he made a strong statement as to how to lead in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina following Bush's address to the nation. [link] Kerry is buoyed by polls that show him beating George Bush by 10% if the 2004 election were held this year. [link]
- :::* 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. In February 2005, the Associated Press reported that he has informed party leaders that he intends to run[link]. Richardson was embarrassed on November 24, 2005 when it was revealed he had been incorrect for decades in his assertion he had been drafted to a Major League Baseball team in 1967. [link]. Richardson does not currently have an active Federal Leadership PAC.
- :::* Tom Vilsack, born December 13 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Governor of Iowa, Chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council. Vilsack has announced he will not seek re-election for Governor when his term ends in 2007. 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. [link] [link] In 2005, Vilsack established Heartland PAC[link], a political action committee aimed at electing Democratic Governors and other statewide candidates. Unlike the PACs of most other potential candidates, Heartland PAC is not a federal PAC and can not contribute to federal candidates.
- :::* Mark Warner, born December 15 1954 in Indiana, former Governor of Virginia. Warner has not stated whether or not he intends to run in 2008 but, according to The Washington Post, [link], he has started taking steps towards a presidential run by forming a Federal Leadership PAC, Forward Together [link], and hiring a former top aide to Vice President Al Gore, Monica Dixon to advise him on national politics. There is also a strong [Draft Mark Warner for President] movement, and [DemStore.com] has already started printing Draft Warner campaign pins and bumper stickers. Warner is considered a moderate, and enjoys high approval numbers in red state Virginia. Warner was also able, as the Chairman of the National Governors Association, to make trips to early primary states nationwide. He has recorded some approval ratings in the High 70's. Time Magazine rated him in November 2005 as one of America's top 5 governors and Governing magazine said Virginia was the best governed state in the Nation under Warner's direction. Warner's profile increased due to his help in securing Tim Kaine's election to succeed him, seen widely as a rare victory for Democrats in a majority-Republican state. However, some speculate that Warner, who was replaced by Kaine in January 2006, will be hurt by not holding a political office at the time he is running.
Other people mentioned as possible candidates
- :::* Barbara Boxer, Senator from California. She received 6.9 million votes in her 2004 re-election for a third term as U.S. Senator representing the State of California, the highest popular vote in U.S. Senate history. Senator Boxer was the only Senator to object to the certification of Ohio's Electoral College votes on January 6,2005, [link], [link], [link] (see 2004 U.S. election voting controversy and irregularities). She strongly challenged Condoleezza Rice's nomination for Secretary of State [link], [link],[link], and is well known for her staunch liberal positions. In October 2002 Barbara Boxer voted against the joint resolution passed by the U.S. Congress to authorize the use of military force by the Bush Administration against Iraq. [link], [link], [link], [Barbara Boxer's PAC for a Change], [Boxer 2008 Unofficial Website].
- :::* Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee. See Mike Easley, below.\
- :::* Howard Dean, Former Governor of Vermont, 2004 Presidential candidate, and currently Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He was the first major Presidential candidate (with the exception of Dennis Kucinich) to speak out against Gulf War II. When Dean ran for the position of DNC Chairman in 2005, he promised not to run for President in 2008. In April, 2006, Dean again ruled out running for public office in 2008, but did not rule it out altogether for the future.[link] After his 2004 run, he founded a nationwide liberal activist network called Democracy for America (now chaired by his brother Jim Dean) which has been quite influential, even though he is no longer directly involved with it. Both Deans have been advocates of a "50 State Strategy" aimed at building the party's strength in all states, even those which currently vote Republican.
- :::* Mike Easley, Governor of North Carolina; Easley and Bredesen are both popular moderate Democrats of Southern states; many feel they could draw some Southern states, in particular their home states, from the "Red State" column. Despite their home-state popularity, few consider Bredesen or Easley to be serious candidates, and neither has shown public interest in the office. Those factors, however, might make Easley or Bredesen a possible Vice Presidential nominee.
- :::* Dennis Kucinich, Ohio Congressman, and 2004 Democratic primary candidate. Kucinich threw his support behind Kerry in 2004 although a number of Kucinich's delegates refused to follow suit.
- :::* Barack Obama, U.S. Senator from Illinois, was the keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and is seen as a rising party star, who has been floated as a possible candidate for the presidency in 2008. However, he has said that he is "...not running for President in 2008. I mean, come on guys. The only reason I'm being definitive is because until I'm definitive you will keep asking me this question, but it's a silly question."[link] [link] [link] However, his fellow Senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has encouraged the idea of Obama as a candidate. On FOX News Sunday, Durbin stated that Obama will have his endorsement should he choose to run. [link]
- :::* Brian Schweitzer, Governor of Montana. While there are websites urging him to run, he has stated "These people are kooky...I'm not that smart and I ain't pretty, so I don't know what they're talking about".[link] Appointed by President Bill Clinton to the United States Department of Agriculture. He ran for the Senate in 2000 but lost to Conrad Burns; he was elected as Governor of Montana in 2004.
- :::* Al Sharpton of New York, Pentecostal minister, civil rights activist, former candidate for mayor of New York and for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator from New York, and candidate for the 2004 nomination. When asked about 2008, he replied, "Don't get Hillary mad at me." [link] He was one of the first candidates to enter the 2004 race, but thus far he has said nothing more about 2008. His 2004 campaign was not a great success. He never got more than 10% of the vote in any state, although he did get 20% in the District of Columbia. [link] There are still unresolved campaign-finance issues left over from this campaign.
See also
- Potential Republican candidates in the 2008 U.S. presidential election
- Potential third party candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election
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