2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Statement From Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore

Statement from former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore

I am today withdrawing my candidacy for the Republican nomination for President.  It has been a positive and rewarding experience for me, for my family, and for my supporters. 

It has become apparent to me that the combination of my late start, and the front loaded nature of the primary schedule, have made it impractical to continue to pursue this path towards further public service.

I am proud of the fact that my campaign focused on the issues, worked hard to block amnesty for illegal immigrants, brought attention to the need to protect private property rights, and called for a new path in Iraq that would provide our valiant military men and women with a more clearly defined and achievable mission.

However, I have come to believe that it takes more than a positive vision for our nation's future to successfully compete for the Presidency.  I believe that it takes years of preparation to put in place both the political and financial infrastructure to contest what now amounts to a one-day national primary in February.

In the coming weeks and months, I intend to remain active in the Republican Party and in the public debate. I will be forming a state political action committee to assist Republican candidates in the Virginia General Assembly races.  Additionally, I will be actively looking for other opportunities to continue in public service in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jim Gilmore Has Emergency Eye Surgery

JIM GILMORE HAS EMERGENCY EYE SURGERY

SPRINGFIELD, VA – The presidential campaign of former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore announced today that Gilmore received emergency eye surgery Friday to repair a partially detached retina in his right eye.

The surgery, which was performed by Dr. Juan Astruc, Jr. at the  Retina Institute of Virginia in Richmond was successful and Gilmore is currently recuperating at home in Richmond.  “The emergency surgery went well and the Governor’s prognosis is good,” Dr. Astruc said Monday.

Gilmore spokesman Dick Leggitt said doctors had restricted Gilmore’s travels for an indefinite period of time and the campaign has cancelled its scheduled events for at least the next seven days.  “He is very anxious to get back to campaigning, but for the moment that is not possible,” Leggitt said.

Gilmore Will Join Candidates Bypassing Iowa Straw Poll

Gilmore Will Join Candidates Bypassing Iowa Straw Poll

SPRINGFIELD, VA - Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said today his campaign will not participate in the Aug. 11th Iowa straw poll. Gilmore said today the resources of his campaign will be better utilized if they are instead focused on the Iowa caucuses in January.

Gilmore has made a half dozen trips to Iowa in recent months, has a campaign staff member at work in the state and made the official announcement of his candidacy from Iowa GOP headquarters in Des Moines.

Gilmore said today "unfortunately, the results of the August Iowa straw poll are going to be determined solely by which candidate is willing to spend the most money and will have little to do with the candidate's conservative appeal to Republican voters."

The Republican campaigns of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain have announced they are by passing the August straw poll as well. Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, a potential candidate, is also reported to be considering not participating in the straw poll.

Gilmore Comments On Rev. Falwell

STATEMENT BY FORMER GOV. JIM GILMORE ON THE PASSING OF THE REV. JERRY FALWELL

“In the passing of Rev. Jerry Falwell, we have lost someone who brought inspiration and faith to millions of people around the world.  Dr Falwell was a close supporter of mine for many years and I was an admirer of his good works. The educational institution he founded, Liberty University, has become a major employer in Virginia and is well regarded by educators from throughout the country. Not only did he inspire people in Virginia and America with his faith based efforts to improve lift up the lives of our citizens, he also has helped people throughout the world with his mission work.  We will miss him.” 

Jim Gilmore Makes It Official In Webcast From Iowa

JIM GILMORE MAKES IT OFFICIAL IN WEBCAST FROM IOWA;
WARNS ABOUT THE NEED FOR A MORE SECURE AMERICA

DES MOINES – Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore sounded a warning about America’s preparedness for a terrorist attack today and announced that he is officially entering the race for the Republican presidential nomination “because we must do more to keep our country and our families safe.”

Gilmore, who served as a noncommissioned officer in U.S. Army counter-intelligence, was Governor of Virginia when terrorists flew a plane into the Pentagon. At the time he was serving as the chairman of the Gilmore Commission, which for three years have been making recommendations on ways to prevent and respond to terrorism. After the attacks, Congress and the federal government adopted 146 of the commission’s 164 recommendations. 

"When terrorists hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Virginia, many of us lost friends and loved ones.  And our nation forever lost a sense of ‘It can’t happen here.’ Well, it did happen here and, make no mistake, it will happen again.  And next time our nation must be better prepared.” 

In a live online chat following the announcement at www.GilmoreforPresident.com, Gilmore answered questions and responded to comments from voters across the country ranging from Iraq to property rights. The former Governor said he hopes to become the first blogging President.

Gilmore’s formal entry into the most wide open presidential race in more than 50 years came as he made his third visit to Iowa in the last three weeks.  The Iowa presidential caucuses will be held on January 14, 2008. So far, conservatives in Iowa and elsewhere are expressing their dissatisfaction with the so-called front runners for the Republican nomination

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Gilmore, 57, is the son of working class parents. As Governor of Virginia, he became a champion of the taxpayers by reducing taxes on working men and woman by $1.5 billion.  He has been awarded the Friend of the Taxpayer Award three times by Americans for Tax Reform, is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Jim Gilmore To Officially Announce Candidacy In Live Webcast From Iowa GOP Headquarters

GILMORE TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY IN LIVE WEBCAST FROM IOWA GOP HEADQUARTERS 

DES MOINES – Making his third visit to Iowa in three weeks, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore will officially announce as a candidate for President of the United States Thursday in a live webcast from the Republican Party of Iowa headquarters.

Gilmore’s entry in the race comes as conservatives in Iowa and elsewhere continue to express their dissatisfaction with the so-called front runners for the Republican nomination.  A tax cutting former Virginia Governor, Gilmore is a leading authority on homeland security and is making the need for a more secure America a central part of his campaign message.

Gilmore’s official announcement of candidacy will be at 12 noon Thursday at GOP headquarters, 621 East 9th Street in Des Moines. The announcement will be broadcast live on the web at www.gilmoreforpresident.com.  Following the announcement, Gilmore will answer questions from voters on a live blog chat. 

A native of Richmond Virginia, Gilmore, 57, is the son of working class parents. As Governor of Virginia, he became a champion of the taxpayers by reducing taxes on working men and woman by $1.5 billion.  He has been awarded the Friend of the Taxpayer Award three times by Americans for Tax Reform.  He is a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Gilmore, who served as a noncommissioned officer in U.S. Army counter-intelligence and was a tough crime busting prosecutor in Virginia, was Governor of Virginia when terrorists flew a plane into the Pentagon on 9/11. He was appointed by Congress as the chairman of a Congressionally created national commission charged with making recommendations on ways to prevent and respond to terrorism, which became known as the Gilmore Commission.

Jim Gilmore Opens National Campaign Office In Springfield Virginia

THE GILMORE CAMPAIGN SIGNS TOP GOP CONSULTANTS AND OPENS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OFFICE IN SPRINGFIELD

SPRINGFIELD, VA – The Gilmore for President Exploratory Committee today announced that it has opened a campaign office in Springfield, Va. and begun hiring top level staff to assist former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore’s effort to secure the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

The campaign said it had hired three top veteran GOP consultants, Kieran Mahoney, Boyd Marcus and Christian Josi, and experienced deputy campaign manager, Tom Bunnell. The campaign has leased the entire 12^th floor of the Springfield Tower office building and has launched an aggressive mail, media and fundraising effort.

New Jim Gilmore For President Website Launched

The new Jim Gilmore for President Website was launched at www.gilmoreforpresident.com

Jim Gilmore Statement Of Candidacy

Jim Gilmore Files Presidential Exploratory Committee Paperwork

Gilmore Makes it Official: Former Virginia Governor Files a Presidential Exploratory Committee

Alexandria, Virginia --- Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore made it official today by filing the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to form an exploratory committee to explore a potential candidacy for President of the United States.

"Today, I filed the papers necessary to explore a candidacy for President because I believe that this nation needs conservative leadership.  Alone among those considering a candidacy for the Republican nomination, I have a record of real leadership as a tax cutter and job creator, as a leader on national security issues, and as a national leader in our party.  I intend to move quickly to form a national campaign team and to make my decision on moving to a formal candidacy," Gilmore said.

Governor Gilmore will soon announce his committee’s leadership structure, which will include several prominent Republicans with experience in presidential campaigns.

The committee's website will be located at www.gilmoreexploratory.com