2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

John Edwards To Announce '08 Run In Late December

John Edwards Will Announce An '08 Run
Democratic Officials: Plans To Officially Announce Later In December

(CBS/AP) Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards intends to enter the 2008 race for the White House, two Democratic officials said Saturday.

Edwards, who represented North Carolina in the Senate for six years, plans to make the campaign announcement late this month from the New Orleans neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina last year and slow to recover from the storm...

Edwards also plans to travel from New Orleans through the four early presidential nominating states — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina...

CBS News Article

Tommy Thompson Creates Exploratory Panel

Thompson tests waters for presidential campaign
Former Wisconsin governor creates exploratory panel
By KATHERINE M. SKIBA
Dec. 15, 2006

Washington - Tommy G. Thompson has formed a 2008 presidential exploratory committee and brought on political advisers in Iowa as he considers a possible run for the White House.

Thompson, 65, a Republican, is the former governor of Wisconsin and U.S. Health and Human Services Department secretary.

Milwaukee Sentinel-Journal Article

Senator Bayh Statement On His Decision Not Run In 2008

Statement from Senator Bayh on His Decision Not to Run in 2008

December 15, 2006

"During my two terms as Governor and now in the United States Senate, it has always been more about the people I was able to help than the job I held. As you know I have been exploring helping the people of my state and our country in a different capacity. After talking with family and friends over the past several days, I have decided that this is not the year for me to run for President and I will not be a candidate for the presidency in 2008. It wasn't an easy decision but it was the right one for my family, my friends and my state. I have always prided myself on putting my public responsibilities ahead of my own ambitions.

The odds were always going to be very long for a relatively unknown candidate like myself, a little bit like David and Goliath. And whether there were too many Goliaths or whether I'm just not the right David, the fact remains that at the end of the day, I concluded that due to circumstances beyond our control the odds were longer than I felt I could responsibly pursue. This path -- and these long odds -- would have required me to be essentially absent from the Senate for the next year instead of working to help the people of my state and the nation.

I am immensely grateful for the support of my family and friends and the thousands of people around the country who helped me with their time and their resources. There may be no campaign in the near future, but there is much work to be done. When the Senate returns, I will focus on the issues that matter to the people of my state and are critical to the future of the nation including reducing our dependence on foreign oil, creating opportunity for middle class families, and implementing a national security strategy that is both tough and smart."

Brownback Adds Two To Exploratory Committee

BROWNBACK ADDS TWO TO EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback today announced that Dr. Jerry Zandstra of Michigan and former Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio of Hawaii have joined his presidential exploratory committee.

“Senator Brownback is a Ronald Reagan Republican who can help us return to basic conservative principles,” said Zandstra. “Senator Brownback has the consistency and credibility to unite the Republican Party and win Michigan.”

“As a teacher, I understand the importance of building character in our youth,” said Baraquio. “Senator Brownback is a leader of impeccable character who can show the way with strength, integrity, compassion, and wisdom. As a Catholic, I am proud to support this wonderful man who believes in the sanctity of every human life.”

“I’m honored that Angela will bring her experience in education and childhood development to our team,” said Brownback. “Angela understands that character and education are crucial in building a culture of success that gives our children the environment they need to thrive. I’m thrilled that Dr. Zandstra has joined my team, as Jerry’s Michigan ties and his commitment to renewing the family and culture makes him a valuable asset.”

Eight National Finance Co-Chairs Join McCain Team

Eight National Finance Co-Chairs Join Supporters of Senator McCain in 2008

ALEXANDRIA, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced today the addition of eight national finance co-chairmen: Donald Bren; Donald R. Diamond; Lewis M. Eisenberg; James B. Lee, Jr.; Thomas G. Loeffler; John A. Moran; Jerry Perenchio; and John Thain.

“Over the years I have become close friends with each of these distinguished men, and I am honored to have their support as we move forward,” Senator McCain said.  “Across the board, they are at the top of their respective professions and their admirable experiences offer a unique perspective to the exploratory committee.  Their dedication to the Republican Party and their renowned financial savvy are essential to any successful campaign, and I am so grateful that they have chosen to bring their talents and wisdom to our team.”

Kathleen Shanahan Joins Senator McCain’s Team

Kathleen Shanahan Joins Senator McCain’s Team
Floridian Will be Part of National Strategy Group

ALEXANDRIA, VA – United States Senator John McCain’s Presidential Exploratory today announced today that Kathleen Shanahan will serve as a member of the national strategy team should the Arizona Senator decide to run for president in 2008.

“Kathleen has a proven record of public service, strong leadership, and sound judgment. I am honored and excited to have her as part of the team,” said Senator McCain.

“John McCain’s inspired background, strength of character, and conservative values make him the ideal candidate for president in 2008,” Ms. Shanahan said.

Mike Cox Named Chairman For McCain 2008

Mike Cox Named National Law Enforcement Chairman and Michigan Chairman

ALEXANDRIA, VA – U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential exploratory committee announced today that Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has agreed to serve as its national chairman of law enforcement and its Michigan chairman.

“I look forward to helping Senator McCain win Michigan again and recruit law enforcement across the country to support him should he decide to run for President,” said Cox.  “Senator McCain is very popular in Michigan and someone who I have always admired for his integrity and straight talk.”

“Attorney General Mike Cox is one of our nation’s preeminent crime fighters and an up-and-coming political leader,” said Senator John McCain.  “I am honored to have him as an important member of our inner circle and look forward to working closely with him as the exploratory committee moves forward.”

New Dennis Kucinich For President 2008 Website

This introductory message in appeared on the new Dennis Kucinch for President 2008 website in both text and video formats.

Hi, everyone. Dennis here.

The response to our campaign has been very encouraging. People from all over the country want to know what they can do to get involved; and this website is going to be an essential organizing tool. And we're asking you to participate. So, it's important for you to be around; kind of hang around the site, check on it every day, see the kinds of things that we're doing, check on the media [News] section and see how the media is finally getting engaged in following our campaign.

It's really interesting to see people respond because, in the past, we organized the campaign and then I made an announcement. This time I made the announcement, and the campaign is beginning to gather around us quite quickly. So stay tuned! But more than that, stay involved, help us plan, help us organize, help us raise funds, help us set the stage for a new direction for America.

People know that my position on the war is the position that is going to bring our troops home. People know that when I say that we have the money to bring the troops home now, that I'm right. And people know that the Democrats ought to rally behind the will of the American people expressed in November to bring our troops home. It's just not right for leaders to be talking about giving the president another $160 billion that will keep our troops in Iraq until the end of the president's term.

So we have the power to create a new direction. And we're going to do it with your help. And I'm so grateful for that. I look forward to hearing from you. This is your campaign; it's not about me, it's about all of us. It's about our endeavor to create a world of peace and to create a world that we can relate to people all over the world. We know that this is the time for us to open up our hearts and to reveal the power that is within each of us to create a new world.

Thank you very much, and you'll be hearing from me often.

Governor Tom Vilsack Creates Presidential Campaign Videoblog On Blip.tv

Governor Tom Vilsack Creates Presidential Campaign Videoblog on blip.tv

Iowa Governor Uses Video on the Internet to Connect Directly With Voters

NEW YORK, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Videoblogging is poised to have a major impact on the next Presidential election. Today, Iowa Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Tom Vilsack announced he is creating a weekly videoblog to highlight his vision for America. Governor Vilsack's show will be hosted by blip.tv, a service that hosts and distributes videoblogs and Web-based TV shows.
Vilsack's campaign videos will provide a comprehensive, behind the scenes look at life on the presidential campaign trail, chronicling the experiences and insights of Governor Vilsack, top campaign staff and the candidate's family. The show will enable Vilsack to communicate directly with voters about his campaign platform and to speak about the top issues of the day, while humanizing the governor without the filters of traditional media.

Governor Vilsack has already posted his first episodes, available at http://www.tomvilsack08.com and at tomvilsack.blip.tv. The day before officially announcing his run for President, Vilsack posted a personal video with his thoughts on the presidential campaign and his upcoming announcement speech.

Presidential candidate Tom Vilsack said, "Blip.tv is an innovative way to introduce myself to the American people and present my ideas to create change here in the U.S. It's time to change course and rebuild our sense of community. With the help of blip.tv, I will work to find real solutions to everyday problems we face here and abroad."

"In the past, presidential candidates who wanted to communicate with voters had to buy a 30-second television spot or speak in carefully crafted sound bites in the hope the evening news would pick them up," said blip.tv COO Dina Kaplan. "Blip.tv's unique services allow Governor Vilsack to create his own television show: a regularly updated series of videoblogs which voters can regularly tune into for personal, unfiltered news and information directly from the campaign. The curtain is being pulled back, and this can only be good for the democratic process."

Blip.tv will distribute Governor Vilsack's show to his website, at http://www.tomvilsack08.com, to iTunes and to MySpace. The videoblog will also be featured on blip.tv's destination site at http://www.blip.tv.

Dennis Kucinich 2008 Announcement Speech

Announcement of Candidacy
Democratic Nomination for President of the United States
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Cleveland City Hall

"I am announcing my candidacy for President of the United States, with the intention of rallying the American people to the cause of the troops in the field, to the cause of stopping more American families from suffering, to the cause of ending a deepening tragedy in Iraq, to the cause of repairing America’s reputation in the world, to the cause of the dreams of people in my own neighborhood and my own city.

I fully expect to be win, because when the American people hear this clarion call for a new and true direction, this call to confirm their intent, their power, I am confident that they will respond as powerfully, as they did just one month ago, to demand that America quickly change course in Iraq and to demand a leader who will make it happen...

My campaign will be about the truth in action. It will be about the power of decisiveness, and the power of compassion which comes from an understanding of the imperative of human unity, the imperative of human security, the imperative of peace...

I ran for President in 2004, not just to challenge the war and Democratic Party policy, but to bring forth a message: Fear ends. Hope begins. My candidacy will call forth the courage of the American people to meet the challenge of terrorism without sacrificing our liberties and everything that is near and dear to us. My candidacy will inspire hope for a new America, where social, economic and political progress is grounded in work for peace...

This is a moment that we need to call our Democratic leaders to courage. This is about leadership, clear vision and integrity. The people were behind us in November. They are behind us now. We must stand by our word and bring the troops home now.

I am the only member of the House and the Senate running for President who has consistently voted against funding for the war, based on a principled opposition.

I was against the war then. I am against it now. A leader must have not just hindsight, but foresight. The prophet Isaiah said “Without vision, a people perish.” I am stepping forth at this moment because I believe, as did Lincoln that “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from this earth.”. Thank you."

Full Speech Text