2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Arlen Specter 1996 Announcement

Arlen Specter Presidential Announcement on March 30, 1995.

"Today, I offer my ideas -- my experience -- and my energy to the American people -- to lead our great nation into the 21st Century -- as the next President of the United States.

I do so humbly -- in the presence of the monuments of America's great presidents -- especially Abraham Lincoln -- the founder of the Republican Party -- whose deep commitment to equality and opportunity I share.

To all Americans, I optimistically say: tomorrow can be better than today.

To that cause -- I pledge my total dedication; in that cause, I ask my fellow Americans for their hearts, their hands, and their help."

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Alan Keyes 1996 Announcement

"I am, like anybody who gets involved in a race, there's something in my mind that will think someday about winning and losing. But I'll tell you something. I think we're all sick and tired of those folks who go out there and think so much about winning that they don't care how they win. Who think so much about winning... who think so much about winning that they are willing to back away from the issues of principle and right that make it worthwhile to win."

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Pat Buchanan 1996 Announcement

Announcement Speech by Patrick J. Buchanan at the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences on Monday, March 20, 1995.

"In the history of nations, we Americans are the freedom party. We are the first people, the only nation dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And nothing can stop to stop us from going forward to a new era of greatness, in a new century about to begin, if we only go forward together, as one people, one nation, under God.

So to these ends, and for these purposes, I humbly, but proudly, declare my candidacy for the Presidency of the United States."

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Frank Church 1976 Announcement

Frank Church Announcement of Candidacy for President of the United States delivered in Idaho City, Idaho on March 18, 1976.

"The best roads in life lead home again.  Today, in the company of my wife and family, I come home again to Idaho City, where my grandfather first settled during the Gold Rush, and where my father was born before Idaho had yet become at State.

So it is for personal, as well as symbolic reasons, that I come back to this historic place, this frontier town which furnished most of the gold needed to preserve the Union.

The pioneers of the early West were men and women of uncommon strength and faith.  They had the strength to endure the hardships of life in the wilderness.  And they had faith enough in themselves and the future to overcome their fears.

In that spirit the West was won, and in that spirit I now declare my candidacy for President of United States."

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Wes Clark Securing America PAC Web Site

In an e-mail to supporters dated March 16, 2005, Wes Clark announced the launch of his new WesPAC website at the new URL -- SecuringAmerica.com.

In the e-mail, Wes Clark went on to say, "In the coming days and weeks, I will be writing to you frequently with specific actions you can take to help WesPAC advance our new vision for America.  I'm really looking forward to continuing this journey with you -- nothing is more important to the future of our country."

Robert F. Kennedy 1968 Announcement

Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for president in Washington, D.C. on March 16, 1968.

"I am today announcing my candidacy for the presidency of the United States.

"I do not run for the presidency merely to oppose any man but to propose new policies. I run because I am convinced that this country is on a perilous course and because I have such strong feelings about what must be done, and I feel that I'm obliged to do all that I can."

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Steve Forbes 2000 Announcement

Presidential Campaign Filing Announcement Remarks by Steve Forbes On-line at Forbes2000, Tuesday, March 16, 1999

"Today, I’m happy to announce the beginning of my campaign for President of the United States of America.

This is going to be a new, Information-Age campaign about great ideas and enduring values.

I’m going to run the first full-scale presidential campaign in American history on the Internet — because I want you to be involved every step of the way.

So stay tuned to our on-line campaign headquarters — Forbes2000.Com — for daily updates and news of our formal campaign announcement coming up in a few months."

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Elizabeth Dole 2000 Announcement

Elizabeth Dole Exploratory Committee Announcement Speech, March 10, 1999.

"I look forward to being in  touch with all of you.  Don't forget now that website because I want to hear from you.  And many, many thanks, heartfelt thanks, for being with me today.  God bless you and God bless America.  Thank you very much."

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Bruce Babbitt 1988 Announcement

Governor Bruce Babbitt made his Statement of Candidacy on March 10-12, 1987 in Manchester/Des Moines/Atlanta/Phoenix.

"I began where we all began: with the town where I grew up, and the values I learned there, and the people and places I’ve known across the years.  My roots are in the canyon country of northern Arizona, a land staked out and settled by my grandparents when they pushed west from Ohio a hundred years ago. 

I come from a family of ranchers and frontier merchants.  They helped build schools and towns in the wilderness and they lived by simple truths.  You work hard.  You do what’s right.  You stand up for the things you believe in. 

That is what I take from the Arizona."

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Pew Internet & American Life Project: Campaign 2004

Link: Pew Internet & American Life Project: Campaign 2004.

"The internet became an essential part of American politics in 2004. Fully 75 million Americans – 37% of the adult population and 61% of online Americans – used the internet to get political news and information, discuss candidates and debate issues in emails, or participate directly in the political process by volunteering or giving contributions to candidates."

A  commentary on the internet and politics by Michael Cornfield accompanies this report. The Howard Dean campaign is credited with these five innovations: News-pegged fundraising appeals, Meet-ups, Blogging, Online referenda, and Decentralized decision-making.

The George W. Bush and John Kerry campaigns built upon this, with Bush focusing on grass-roots organizing and  mobilization. Kerry focusing on fundraising.

This study confirms some of the observations I made during the 2004 Iowa Caucus. Patrick Ruffini, webmaster of the Bush Cheney '04 blog comments on the study.