2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Mitt Romney Announces House Congressional Liaisons

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL LIAISONS

Boston, MA - Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that U.S. Representative Jim McCrery (R-LA) will serve as the House Congressional Liaison for the Romney for President Exploratory Committee. As Liaison, Representative McCrery will lead Governor Romney's outreach efforts in the U.S. House.

"I am proud to have the support and service of Jim McCrery on my Exploratory Committee. Congressman McCrery will be a strong voice in the U.S. Capitol for our vision to move America forward. Today's announcement is just another sign of our growing support," said Governor Romney.

Governor Romney also named Representatives Dave Camp (R-MI) and Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) as Co-House Congressional Liaisons. Congressman Camp will also serve as Michigan Co-Chair of the Romney for President Exploratory Committee.

"Congressmen Camp and McKeon have demonstrated a strong commitment to doing what's right for their constituents and the American people," said Governor Romney. "With their help, we will find new solutions for the new generation of challenges confronting our nation."

Maxine Sieleman Joins Growing List Of McCain Supporters

SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE LEADER JOINS TEAM MCCAIN IN IOWA
Sieleman Joins Growing List Of McCain Supporters

ARLINGTON, VA - U.S. Senator John McCain's exploratory committee today announced the addition of Maxine Sieleman, a social conservative leader, to the growing Iowa grassroots organization. Sieleman was the founder of the Iowa chapter of Concerned Women for America, a group that is dedicated to bringing biblical principles to all levels of public policy. She has also been a leading voice on Iowa Christian radio for the last 25 years.

"After considerable research, reflection, and prayer I determined that Senator McCain was the clear choice for conservatives and Iowa families," Sieleman said. "He is the one candidate who has a consistent record of supporting pro-life, pro-family legislation."

Sieleman also cited McCain's commitment to appointing strict constructionist judges at all levels of the judiciary, as well as his foreign policy experience in deciding to back his potential candidacy.

McCain was pleased to have Sieleman's support should he decide to seek the presidency. "Maxine brings tremendous experience to our Iowa exploratory committee," McCain said. "I'm proud to have the support of someone who has exhibited such dedication to our shared conservative principles."

Jim Nussle to Lead Rudy Giuliani's Efforts in Iowa

Former Congressman Jim Nussle to Lead Rudy Giuliani's Efforts in Iowa

New York, Jan 16 - The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee announced today that Republican Party leader and former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle will join the Committee as a key supporter and advisor.

Mayor Giuliani praised the Congressman's years of dedicated public service and proven leadership stating, "I'm honored to have Jim Nussle join our team as I explore a campaign for President of the United States. Iowa Republicans know Jim Nussle's character and commitment to public service. They benefited from his leadership in Congress for more than a decade and saw Jim campaign across the state after he received their nomination for Governor last year. Jim Nussle will be a leader of our exploratory effort in Iowa and a valued advisor in our efforts across the nation."

In announcing his support for Giuliani, Congressman Nussle said, "Leadership is about results and right now America needs results. If we're going to move forward and realize progress, we need a proven leader who has gotten results and is ready to handle both the expected and unexpected challenges our country will face.

"Philosophy without progress is frustrating, and rhetoric without results is meaningless. As a proud and consistent conservative Republican, I want our Party and our ideas to have a voice. Even more importantly, I want our party and our ideas to achieve meaningful results for the entire nation.

"It is for these reasons I am honored to serve as a leader and be an advisor for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's exploratory effort in Iowa and across the country," Nussle stated.

Nussle continued, "Rudy Giuliani is the 'results Republican' our country needs. Mayor Giuliani governed with a brand of optimism and focus I have only seen a few times since I've been in public service. He put conservative ideals into action and delivered results.

"With a country deeply divided and a world full of uncertainty, we need an inclusive and principled leader who can bring the country together by focusing on the greater good, not picking partisan fights that fail to achieve meaningful results. Mayor Rudy Giuliani will put aside the partisanship that has divided us, tackle the difficult challenges at hand and give the rest of the country a principled leader we can all believe in," Nussle concluded.

Vilsack Campaign Welcomes Barack Obama Into The Race

STATEMENT ON OBAMA ANNOUNCEMENT

DES MOINES, IA -- Below is a statement by Vilsack for President campaign manager Craig Varoga regarding Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy for President:

“We welcome Barack Obama and all the other candidates into the race. Voters across our country are going to hear a real debate about how to put the Bush years behind us and get America moving in the right direction. We’re glad that other candidates are joining the race. We look forward to a real debate about the issues as the other candidates begin to speak out

"Tancredo For A Secure America" Presidential Exploratory Committee And Website Launched

Tom Tancredo announced his presidential exploratory committee, "Tancredo for a Secure America" with this message on his website.

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you today as a friend, and as a fellow believer in the cause of securing America's borders.

My purpose is to obtain your support as I embark upon a path that may lead to the Republican nomination for the presidency of the United States.

The decision to pursue this arduous and undeniably uphill battle is because I, like you, have a duty to do everything I can to keep faith with those who risked their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" to create this wonderful place we call America.

I am considering this campaign because of my commitment to real immigration reform: reform that first and foremost is dedicated to the security and well-being of the citizens of the United States, and to respect for the rule of law in our beloved nation.

I am also considering this campaign because I believe the Republican Party and its leaders must recommit themselves to limited, smaller government; fiscal responsibility; and honesty in public office.

Last November, the Republican Party paid a high price for abandoning those principles; we will not regain the trust of the voters and a congressional majority until we reclaim them. I am proud that I was one of a handful of Republican members of Congress who voted against both "No Child Left Behind," a federal betrayal of local control of education, and the fiscally irresponsible Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.

When I was elected to Congress in 1998, I made immigration reform my top priority, much to the scorn and derision of the political and business elites who are addicted to the flow of cheap illegal labor into America.

But, as I look at the current presidential candidates, Republican and Democratic, I simply do not see one who reflects the grassroots, majority belief of Americans that our borders must be secured, that employers who hire illegals must be prosecuted, and that no one who has broken our immigration laws should ever be put on a "pathway to citizenship."

After a lot of prayer, and long talks with my wife Jackie and our children, I have decided I am willing to put myself forward as a candidate for president in order, above everything else, to advance our immigration reform agenda, and to reclaim the Republican Party for its core conservative values.

So, I am seeking your advice and counsel. Do you believe I should seek the Republican presidential nomination, to fight to secure our borders and to reassert traditional conservative Republican principles including limited, smaller government, fiscal responsibility and honesty in office? But this campaign cannot just be about me.

It has to be about securing our nation at its borders, protecting American jobs, respecting our laws and our cultural identity, and reclaiming the Republican Party for its best values.

That means for this campaign to go forward and succeed, it must be about us...you and me.

You and I need to agree that we will work together to battle the special interests which now control both parties, and which are so committed to open borders and amnesty for illegal aliens. You and I need to agree that we will dig in, work hard, and raise the money to effectively challenge the deep pockets of the Republican candidates who are talking a good game about immigration, but who are, in fact, supporting amnesty.

If you and I decide I should run, I am not going to ask you to travel with me to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina in the months ahead, on the many weekend and overnight trips away from my family that I will commit my time to between votes in Congress. That will be my job.

But I will count on you to tell your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers and your family about our campaign....and invite them to join it!

And I also will count on you to help me with your financial support, especially now. I simply cannot move ahead without your help, and the help of thousands of patriotic Americans like you . I am ready to be David against the establishment's Goliath, but I need you to help me load my sling-shot!

Thank you for your commitment to the struggle to secure our borders. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Tom Tancredo

P.S. So many wonderful people in the critical primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have already asked if they could volunteer to help us. There is tremendous excitement building! It would be a big help to me as I make my decision if I could hear back from you as soon as possible.

Tom Tancredo Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                  
Tuesday, January 16, 2007

TANCREDO FORMS PRESIDENTIAL EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

(Washington, DC) - Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) today announced the formation of his presidential exploratory committee.

After receiving an overwhelming level of encouragement and support from grassroots Republican activists throughout the state of Iowa, Tancredo has decided to take the next step and form an exploratory committee.

"I have met with Iowans from all walks of life this weekend, and the one thing I heard over and over is that they don’t believe the other contenders care about the same things that they do,” said Tancredo, Chairman of the Congressional Immigration Reform Caucus.  “They believe that there is a void in this race that none of the other candidates are willing or able to fill.”

The decision came after traveling to Des Moines and Council Bluffs, Iowa as part of his book signing tour promoting his book, "In Mortal Danger."  Tancredo met with activists to gauge support for a potential run at the White House between stops.

“I plan to file paperwork this week to form a Presidential Exploratory Committee,” said Tancredo

“Too many people believe that their leaders in Washington have forgotten them,” concluded Tancredo.  “I want to make sure that their voices are heard in the upcoming election.”

Please visit the Congressman’s presidential exploratory website at: www.teamtancredo.org

Barack Obama Filing Papers To Form Presidential Exploratory Committee

This message announcing the formation of a Presidential Exploratory Committee was posted on the Barack Obama website and e-mailed to supporters.

A Message from Barack

Dear Friend,

As many of you know, over the last few months I have been thinking hard about my plans for 2008. Running for the presidency is a profound decision - a decision no one should make on the basis of media hype or personal ambition alone - and so before I committed myself and my family to this race, I wanted to be sure that this was right for us and, more importantly, right for the country.

I certainly didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago. But as I've spoken to many of you in my travels across the states these past months; as I've read your emails and read your letters; I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics.

So I've spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress that we so desperately need.

The decisions that have been made in Washington these past six years, and the problems that have been ignored, have put our country in a precarious place. Our economy is changing rapidly, and that means profound changes for working people. Many of you have shared with me your stories about skyrocketing health care bills, the pensions you've lost and your struggles to pay for college for your kids. Our continued dependence on oil has put our security and our very planet at risk. And we're still mired in a tragic and costly war that should have never been waged.

But challenging as they are, it's not the magnitude of our problems that concerns me the most. It's the smallness of our politics. America's faced big problems before. But today, our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions.

And that's what we have to change first.

We have to change our politics, and come together around our common interests and concerns as Americans.

This won't happen by itself. A change in our politics can only come from you; from people across our country who believe there's a better way and are willing to work for it.

Years ago, as a community organizer in Chicago, I learned that meaningful change always begins at the grassroots, and that engaged citizens working together can accomplish extraordinary things.

So even in the midst of the enormous challenges we face today, I have great faith and hope about the future - because I believe in you.

And that's why I wanted to tell you first that I'll be filing papers today to create a presidential exploratory committee. For the next several weeks, I am going to talk with people from around the country, listening and learning more about the challenges we face as a nation, the opportunities that lie before us, and the role that a presidential campaign might play in bringing our country together. And on February 10th, at the end of these decisions and in my home state of Illinois, I'll share my plans with my friends, neighbors and fellow Americans.

In the meantime, I want to thank all of you for your time, your suggestions, your encouragement and your prayers. And I look forward to continuing our conversation in the weeks and months to come.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Barack Obama

Bobby Harrell Will Serve As Co-Chair In The Pametto State

SPEAKER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JOINS SUPPORTERS OF MCCAIN
Harrell To Serve As State Co-Chair & National Co-Chair Of Legislators For McCain

ARLINGTON, VA – In a visit to South Carolina, U.S. Senator John McCain held a series of press conferences with Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives.  McCain said Harrell would serve as Co-Chair of the Senator’s exploratory committee in the Palmetto State and National Co-Chair of Legislators for McCain.

Harrell called Senator McCain “a personal hero and common sense conservative.”   He also stated, “Senator McCain is the best qualified candidate to win the war against global terror, reduce government spending, reform the broken power structure in Washington, and reconnect government to the faith and trust of the American people.”

Harrell and McCain were joined at the press conferences by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and Attorney General Henry McMaster, who also serve as State Co-Chairs for McCain.  This is considered a major announcement because Harrell is one of South Carolina’s most influential Republican leaders and his support had been sought by other leading Republican candidates for president.

Harrell said he had decided to back the Arizona senator after months of thought and prayer because McCain has “never wavered” from the conservative principles of President Ronald Reagan. 

“My wife, Cathy, and I made this decision together after having discussed it for several months.  She agrees with me that John McCain is the man our country needs to lead us through these dangerous times,” Harrell said.  “In my judgment, John is the single-most, conservative candidate who can win the election.”                                                                                        
McCain welcomed Harrell’s support.  “Bobby is one of South Carolina’s most respected leaders,” said McCain.  “His support is very important to me and my family as we approach the point of making a decision on my candidacy.” 

McCain said Harrell would occupy a role in national leadership as well as in the Palmetto State should he decide to seek the presidency.  “Speaker Harrell is admired and respected throughout South Carolina and by fellow legislators across the nation,” stated McCain.  “I am honored he has agreed to serve as Co-Chair of our efforts in South Carolina as well as National Co-Chair of Legislators for McCain.”

Vin Weber Named Policy Chairman For Romney 2008 Committee

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES VIN WEBER AS POLICY CHAIRMAN

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced that former United States Representative Vin Weber (R-MN) will serve as Policy Chairman on the Romney for President Exploratory Committee. As Policy Chairman, Mr. Weber will oversee all policy development for Governor Romney.

"I am honored that Vin Weber will serve on my Exploratory Committee. Throughout his many years of public service, he has embodied the bold thinking necessary to find innovative solutions to the challenges confronting the American people," said Governor Romney. "As I continue building a national organization, he will be an important voice in advancing my agenda to move the country forward." 

Vin Weber Biography:
Vin Weber served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1993, representing Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District. He currently serves as Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy and as chief executive officer of Clark & Weinstock. Mr. Weber sits on the Board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion, and co-chaired a major independent task force on U.S. Policy Toward Reform in the Arab World. Mr. Weber has counseled numerous Presidential campaigns, and in 2004, was the Bush-Cheney '04 Plains States Regional Chairman. Prior to opening Clark & Weinstock's Washington office in 1994, Mr. Weber was president of Empower America.

Chuck Yob And Holly Hughes To Co-Chair 2008 McCain 2008 Michigan Committee

Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob and Republican National Committeewoman Holly Hughes to Co-Chair Michigan Steering Committee

ALEXANDRIA, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s exploratory committee today announced that Michigan Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob and Republican National Committeewoman Holly Hughes will serve as Co-Chairs of the Michigan Steering Committee and take lead roles recruiting Republican National Committee (RNC) Members across the country.

“John McCain is the common sense conservative in the race who can defeat the Democrat nominee and win Michigan for the first time since 1988,” said Republican National Committeeman Chuck Yob.  “We are putting together the strongest political organization in the country as he completes the exploratory phase of the process.”

“Senator McCain is the only candidate in the race with the foreign policy experience to protect our homeland and lead our country in these difficult times,” said Republican National Committeewoman Holly Hughes.  “I look forward to helping build a grassroots political organization that is second to none.”

“Chuck Yob is one of the best grassroots organizers in the country and long-time leader on the Republican National Committee,” said Senator John McCain.  “He will be a key member of our team as we move forward in Michigan and recruiting RNC Members across the country.”

“Holly Hughes is a rising star in the grassroots of the Michigan Republican Party and has proven to be an effective advocate for our party,” said Senator John McCain.  “I look forward to her counsel and assistance in building our team in the months and years ahead.”

Chuck Yob and Holly Hughes both supported George W. Bush in the 2000 Presidential Primary. 

Attorney General Mike Cox is the Chairman of the Exploratory Committee for Michigan.