Duncan Hunter Drops Out Of GOP Race

California Congressman Who Focused On Border Security Was Unable To Get Traction In Presidential Race

(AP)  Standing at the same navy pier where he announced his candidacy more than a year ago, Rep. Duncan Hunter conceded that his campaign for president was over Saturday night.

"I will take full responsibility for the failure of this campaign to gain traction," Hunter said in a speech to campaign volunteers, friends and curious onlookers.

Hunter acknowledged that his run never gained popular momentum but he felt he scored a political victory in forcing other campaigns to take on issues he championed - border security, the burgeoning economic threat of China and the need to rebuild America's military.

"The other candidates today are talking about things I brought up," he said, alongside his wife, Lynne, and their two sons. "So I think that in itself is a great victory for this campaign."

The decision to withdraw comes after a poor showing in the Nevada caucuses.

"We thought we'd do much better in Nevada, but the numbers weren't there," said campaign spokesman Bob Bevill. "We were not able to get any traction."

Hunter, a San Diego-area congressman, spent most of Saturday in Nevada.

In recent weeks he was forced at every stop to dispel rumors that the campaign was already dead and was unable to talk about the issues, Bevill said. The best showing of Hunter's campaign was in Wyoming's Jan. 5 caucuses, in which he won 8 percent of the vote, finishing third behind Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.

"The media has a 'vote someone off the island' mentality and Duncan Hunter was a casualty of that," said Bevill.

Hunter, a Vietnam veteran, was elected to Congress in 1980 as part of President Reagan's sweep into power. He appealed to some conservatives by focusing on military issues and border security.

[kansas1946]

Duncan Hunter was the best candidate on the roster. All you folks want is just a circus freak that you can point at and say, "Oooooo". You want to make history for all the wrong reasons.

Pathetic.


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Posted by Hwy71So at 07:57 AM : Jan 22, 2008
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I think I probably have to agree with you. Although there was no Republican from the get-go that I would have voted for, I think that Duncan Hunter was by far more qualifired that any of the front-runners currently. What a pathetic group. In fact, I have never seen a worse line up of candidates for president from either party. I think people have forgotten that the person that is president of the United States should be an incredibly accomplished, intellegent, and tested person. No some guy that just wants to bash *** and "save the babies."

You see what an inferior person has gotten us for seven years.

[ov442]

About time, i cant figure out how in the world he was able to even stay in the race so long with so little money and support.

However, i have to say, he is by FAR a better choice for GOP nomination than any other GOP candidate... FAR!!!

[hwy71so]

Duncan Hunter was the best candidate on the roster. All you folks want is just a circus freak that you can point at and say, "Oooooo". You want to make history for all the wrong reasons.

Pathetic.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

The day Mr. Hunter announced his candidacy, I took the time and interest to contact him.

I informed Mr. Hunter that his chances of getting elected president of the United States were the exact same as him becoming the next Pope or Czar of Russia.

Furthermore, I mentioned how the money he would be frittering away on campaign expenses, should instead go to useful purposes, like helping people in need. Then, I suggested that he raise money to help other people, and be remembered as a generous, helpful, person, rather than as a political hack.

Of course, his staff probably protected him from seeing my comments; but, nonetheless, I made them, and in doing so, I wrote the truth.

I invented the term PRESINOIA %u2013 to describe the mental health condition of presidential wannabes, whose chances of getting elected are the exact same as them becoming the next Pope or Czar of Russia. Yet, they somehow convince themselves that they actually do have a shot at, err, should that be chance, of getting elected.

Even good people can develop symptoms of PRESINOIA. What they really need is staff, friends and family who are honest enough to let them know that what they really need mental health intervention, instead of political foolishness.

[ontheleft]

maybe he and ron paul can team up to run for office in bulgaria. just a thought.

[sgtrds]

Good riddance to bad garbage.......

[rushlimpdrug]

Duncan who?

Don''t know him, but he makes a great donut.

[rohink-2009]

Posted by roger_inkart

The media does control.

Duncan Hunter is a good man.

[roger_inkart]

Yup, another right-wing lunatic bites the dust. So long Hunter, SO sorry you couldn''t exploit people''s hatred of immigrants and Muslims enough to have anyone take you seriously.

Love this quote:

"The media has a ''vote someone off the island'' mentality and Duncan Hunter was a casualty of that," said Bevill.

Yet again, the party of no accountability blames the media for their failings. Too funny

[samrensho]

Never heard of him. No loss there

[antoniof123]

Who? He was runing.

[keithle1]

No one cares. No one knew he was running.

Now it''s Kucinich''s turn to drop out. Who is he fooling. Needs to take his hot wife on vacation & forget about trying to be President.

What''s Thompson waiting for?

[cdfoxtrot]

Duncan who??