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The endorsements that would make huge waves
December 06, 2007
Throughout 2007, presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle have
touted the lawmakers, celebrities and sports stars who are backing their
campaigns.
However, there are plenty more big fish out there.
Endorsements do not sway many voters, but they do lead to free media time
for White House hopefuls scrambling for attention.
Whether it's the Speaker of the House, Tiger Woods or a lawmaker from a key
primary state, the campaigns want to boast that they have caught lightning
in a bottle.
The Hill reviewed the big names who have stayed on the sidelines, at least
for now. Most of the people below will remain mum until the general
election; others may stay silent throughout the entire 2008 presidential
cycle. But a few are certain to make big waves down the stretch and attract
boldface headlines.
AFL-CIO. While several of the group's unions have endorsed candidates, it
looks unlikely that any one of the Democrats can pick up the two-thirds of
the membership necessary to win the national endorsement. The organization
will most likely sit out the primaries, then throw its money and support
behind the nominee.
Lance Armstrong. The host of a cancer forum attended by six presidential
candidates earlier this year, Armstrong has yet to endorse any of them. Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R)
were there, as was former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who has also joined
Armstrong on a ride across Iowa. But the seven-time Tour de France winner
and cancer survivor might want to stay out of the mud to keep his work on
cancer nonpartisan.
Gary Bauer. Bauer, head of The Campaign for Working Families, likely won't
follow Pat Robertson in endorsing Rudy Giuliani, as he has expressed
reservations about Giuliani's social issue positions. He has sent an e-mail
on behalf of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) asking people to consider
supporting Thompson, but it was not a formal endorsement.
The blogs. There are countless blogs, and both Democrats and Republicans are
courting them one at a time.
Mike Bloomberg. If he doesn't run himself as a third-party candidate, a
Bloomberg endorsement would be above-the-fold news.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). The former top Republican in
the House, ex-Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.), is backing Mitt Romney. Kevin
Madden, Boehner's former flack, left the Hill to join Romney's team, but
Boehner has not showed his hand.
Tom Brady. The New England Patriots quarterback might be more of a celebrity
in the Northeast right now than Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. He's
shown an interest in politics, including saying that his craziest ambition
is to become a U.S. senator, and he appears to lean Republican. He was one
of President Bush's guests at the 2004 State of the Union address.
Jeb Bush. He will likely run for president some day, but he knew this was
not the best time.
President Bush: The president has said repeatedly that he does not want to
get involved in the presidential race until the candidates have been
nominated. However, behind the scenes he can become a powerful ally or
opponent to any of the Republicans running. After all, despite slumping poll
numbers, Bush is still the head of the GOP, and he put together the most
impressive fundraising machine of any Republican in history.
Former President George H.W. Bush. Bush is the only former president who
could still move the race by legitimizing one of the GOP's candidates as
heir to the Bush dynasty.
Laura Bush. She is a lot more popular than her husband and will be a tough
act to follow for the next first lady, or first gentleman.
Jimmy Carter: As a former White House occupant and a respected human rights
and elections advocate, Carter's endorsement still carries some weight.
Walter Mondale, Carter's vice president, has backed Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton (D-N.Y.).
Vice President Cheney. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called him Darth
Vader, but to many on the right, the vice president - despite dismal poll
numbers - is still a political hero.
Club for Growth. Former Rep. Pat Toomey's (R-Pa.) anti-tax group is always
very clear when it comes to which candidates it doesn't like, as former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee can attest. The Club has yet to endorse any of
the GOP candidates, but it has offered tepid support for several. An
endorsement from the Club would give instant Wall Street credit to a
candidate who, like the rest of the field, is vying for the mantle of Real
Fiscal Conservative.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R). Crist has a nice tan, an important state and
approval numbers that are through the roof. With Florida's newfound
importance in the GOP primaries, the heir to Jeb Bush's throne could
significantly help any one of the GOP candidates. Crist is said to be a wily
politician who might look good on the ticket next fall, so he is likely to
place his bet on the person who looks like the winner.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.). He backed then-Rep. Richard
Gephardt (D-Mo.) in 2004. Clyburn's support would be crucial in the
important state of South Carolina.
Chet Culver. The first-term Iowa governor could help any of the Democratic
candidates to pick up crucial votes in the state as the White House hopefuls
are on the home stretch toward the first caucus in the nation.
The Des Moines Register. This one is widely anticipated, but editors for the
influential paper aren't offering any clues.
Lou Dobbs. The television personality, who is held in high esteem by
proponents of stringent border security measures, is reportedly flirting
with the idea of launching his own White House bid.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.). Please end the
suspense, Rahm, and tell us: Barack or Hillary?
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). Wisely opted not to launch a 2008 run, though
he has a major following in the blogosphere.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). As Gingrich tells it, all that
stood between him and his own presidential run was a law that prevented him
from exploring a White House bid while also staying at the helm of his group
American Solutions for Winning the Future. Prior to opting out, the former
Speaker polled in the middle single digits as an undeclared candidate.
Former Vice President Al Gore. Al Gore might be tempted to add "kingmaker"
to his r
The endorsements that would make huge waves
December 06, 2007
Throughout 2007, presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle have
touted the lawmakers, celebrities and sports stars who are backing their
campaigns.
However, there are plenty more big fish out there.
Endorsements do not sway many voters, but they do lead to free media time
for White House hopefuls scrambling for attention.
Whether it's the Speaker of the House, Tiger Woods or a lawmaker from a key
primary state, the campaigns want to boast that they have caught lightning
in a bottle.
The Hill reviewed the big names who have stayed on the sidelines, at least
for now. Most of the people below will remain mum until the general
election; others may stay silent throughout the entire 2008 presidential
cycle. But a few are certain to make big waves down the stretch and attract
boldface headlines.
AFL-CIO. While several of the group's unions have endorsed candidates, it
looks unlikely that any one of the Democrats can pick up the two-thirds of
the membership necessary to win the national endorsement. The organization
will most likely sit out the primaries, then throw its money and support
behind the nominee.
Lance Armstrong. The host of a cancer forum attended by six presidential
candidates earlier this year, Armstrong has yet to endorse any of them. Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R)
were there, as was former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who has also joined
Armstrong on a ride across Iowa. But the seven-time Tour de France winner
and cancer survivor might want to stay out of the mud to keep his work on
cancer nonpartisan.
Gary Bauer. Bauer, head of The Campaign for Working Families, likely won't
follow Pat Robertson in endorsing Rudy Giuliani, as he has expressed
reservations about Giuliani's social issue positions. He has sent an e-mail
on behalf of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) asking people to consider
supporting Thompson, but it was not a formal endorsement.
The blogs. There are countless blogs, and both Democrats and Republicans are
courting them one at a time.
Mike Bloomberg. If he doesn't run himself as a third-party candidate, a
Bloomberg endorsement would be above-the-fold news.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). The former top Republican in
the House, ex-Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.), is backing Mitt Romney. Kevin
Madden, Boehner's former flack, left the Hill to join Romney's team, but
Boehner has not showed his hand.
Tom Brady. The New England Patriots quarterback might be more of a celebrity
in the Northeast right now than Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. He's
shown an interest in politics, including saying that his craziest ambition
is to become a U.S. senator, and he appears to lean Republican. He was one
of President Bush's guests at the 2004 State of the Union address.
Jeb Bush. He will likely run for president some day, but he knew this was
not the best time.
President Bush: The president has said repeatedly that he does not want to
get involved in the presidential race until the candidates have been
nominated. However, behind the scenes he can become a powerful ally or
opponent to any of the Republicans running. After all, despite slumping poll
numbers, Bush is still the head of the GOP, and he put together the most
impressive fundraising machine of any Republican in history.
Former President George H.W. Bush. Bush is the only former president who
could still move the race by legitimizing one of the GOP's candidates as
heir to the Bush dynasty.
Laura Bush. She is a lot more popular than her husband and will be a tough
act to follow for the next first lady, or first gentleman.
Jimmy Carter: As a former White House occupant and a respected human rights
and elections advocate, Carter's endorsement still carries some weight.
Walter Mondale, Carter's vice president, has backed Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton (D-N.Y.).
Vice President Cheney. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called him Darth
Vader, but to many on the right, the vice president - despite dismal poll
numbers - is still a political hero.
Club for Growth. Former Rep. Pat Toomey's (R-Pa.) anti-tax group is always
very clear when it comes to which candidates it doesn't like, as former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee can attest. The Club has yet to endorse any of
the GOP candidates, but it has offered tepid support for several. An
endorsement from the Club would give instant Wall Street credit to a
candidate who, like the rest of the field, is vying for the mantle of Real
Fiscal Conservative.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R). Crist has a nice tan, an important state and
approval numbers that are through the roof. With Florida's newfound
importance in the GOP primaries, the heir to Jeb Bush's throne could
significantly help any one of the GOP candidates. Crist is said to be a wily
politician who might look good on the ticket next fall, so he is likely to
place his bet on the person who looks like the winner.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.). He backed then-Rep. Richard
Gephardt (D-Mo.) in 2004. Clyburn's support would be crucial in the
important state of South Carolina.
Chet Culver. The first-term Iowa governor could help any of the Democratic
candidates to pick up crucial votes in the state as the White House hopefuls
are on the home stretch toward the first caucus in the nation.
The Des Moines Register. This one is widely anticipated, but editors for the
influential paper aren't offering any clues.
Lou Dobbs. The television personality, who is held in high esteem by
proponents of stringent border security measures, is reportedly flirting
with the idea of launching his own White House bid.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.). Please end the
suspense, Rahm, and tell us: Barack or Hillary?
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). Wisely opted not to launch a 2008 run, though
he has a major following in the blogosphere.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). As Gingrich tells it, all that
stood between him and his own presidential run was a law that prevented him
from exploring a White House bid while also staying at the helm of his group
American Solutions for Winning the Future. Prior to opting out, the former
Speaker polled in the middle single digits as an undeclared candidate.
Former Vice President Al Gore. Al Gore might be tempted to add "kingmaker"
to his r
