White House hopefuls preparing for 2008

[Ignacio Upton]

White House hopefuls preparing for 2008

By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press WriterFri Oct 13, 4:22 AM ET

Why wait for the chance of a lifetime? Voters have yet to cast ballots for the midterm elections, yet presidential hopefuls are busy maneuvering for the national contest two years away.

Using the early front-runners — Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — as the standard, several potential candidates are hiring staff, lending help to 2006 candidates and mulling over a formal announcement long before the first presidential primary vote.

Republican Gov. George Pataki has opened offices in Iowa and New Hampshire. Democrat John Edwards has added early caucus state Nevada to his itinerary. Republican Gov. Mitt Romney has established a hydra-headed financing system.

Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) has gone back to school, placing photographs and biographies on Facebook.com, a popular college Web site.

"People are always moving around two years before an election, but they're moving around with more intensity this time," said Steve Elmendorf, who was chief of staff for Democrat Dick Gephardt's 2004 presidential campaign and later deputy campaign manager for John Kerry's presidential bid.

For the first time since 1952, neither a sitting president nor a vice president is running, creating a wide-open race for the White House. The most tangible sign of 2008 intensity has been the Internet work, especially among the Democrats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061013/ap_on_el_ge/presidential_politics

[blm]

1. Looking forward to the series of Dem debates. Some interesting talent

to watch.

[Ignacio Upton]

2. I'm afraid it will be like 2004

We should limit the candidates who have the least support. I wouldn't mind leaving Dodd or Biden out in the cold.:evilgrin:

[bluestateguy]

4. No kidding

Dennis Kucinich is a nice man, with some good ideas, but he never had a chance. Neither did Mosely Braun or Al Sharpton. Yet if even one candidate was excluded his or her supporters would have acted like little crybabies. So instead, we had to endure a two hour debate with 10 candidates on the stage, and very little time to hear from the first tier candidates because we were spread so thin.

[bluestateguy]

3. Will the candidates draw straws to see who gets Bob Shrum?

The Clintons were always wise enough to stay away from that pile of shit.

[Ladydawnelle]

5. TO be honest

They should tell Kerry, Edwards and Hillary to stay HOME too!!

WE need REAL candidates with proven records. Not Senators that stay too long in office. Not pretty boys with too much money to spend and zero world experience. And certainly Not the wives of X Presidents. If Hillary runs does that mean in 2012 we can look forward to Laura running?

I want WES CLark or someone comparable. A whole package w/out the past VOTING baggage and definitely someone who DIDnt vote to go to Iraq. Otherwise our guys are stuck there another decade.

jmo.

[juajen]

7. Well, aren't you cute!

Fortunately, that will not happen; and, we do not refer to Bill Clinton as X President. Now that you've struck down our most viable candidates, the exception being the beautiful Wesley Clark, perhaps you should pick on a few pug candidates? I'm all ears.

[Ladydawnelle]

9. NO One with an R attached to their name is worthy

If Hagel became a Democrat perhaps.

I'm not saying I don't LIKE those candidates. I'm just saying I wish we could get some more viable (less baggage) candidates. Is Hill so vain she thinks she's ready for such a high honor?

Maybe if she'd do something really generous and PRO America like contribute to the General's campaign thus getting herself a guaranteed VP seat.......... she may be ready by 2012 or 2016.

Not now. It's too soon. Same with Kerry. Too soon.

Gore has been gone long enough I think he'd be a better choice.

Just my thoughts. It seems a LOT of voters have short memories. But not that short.

And look they are dragging stuff up from 1969 with E Kennedy lately trying to revive OLD anger over an accident!! The republicans of THIS administration are mostly ALL hideous!

[blm]

8. "Real candidates with proven records"

So if a candidate was the lawmaker who uncovered, investigated and exposed more government corruption than any lawmaker in modern history, and the congressional record and National Security Archives proves it, would THAT person have a proven record?

[dogfacedboy]

6. Warner has now backed out. n/t