2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

"Driving Minnesota Forward" John McCain & Tim Pawlenty

John McCain Photo From Blaine, Minnesota

John McCain traveled to Minnesota to campaign for Governor Tim Pawlenty. The Governor and Senator McCain spoke to supporters in Rochester, Mankato, Blaine, Duluth and Moorhead today. At the National Sports Center in Blaine, Senator McCain praised the Governor's leadership.

“These are very dangerous times for America.  This is the kind of leadership that I’d like to pass the torch to, so that America will remain the noblest experiment in the history of mankind.  This is a leader that can carry that torch. Ladies and gentlemen, your governor, Tim Pawlenty.”

Howard Baker 1980 Announcement

Presidential Announcement Statement by Honorable Howard H. Baker. Jr.

"I am a candidate for President of the United States.

The greatness of America has always been written in the confidence of her people as they summon the will to shape their future. Throughout our history, days of trouble have turned to years of pride through a renaissance of the American spirit. Once again America knows days of trouble. Once again we will recover in pride. But only if we are honest enough to admit our peril.

I don't honestly know whether I can beat both Jimmy Carter and Teddy Kennedy on this treaty this November. It is very close. But I guarantee you that I'll beat either Jimmy Carter or Teddy Kennedy in the voting booth next November.

Watch me. Judge me. Then come with me. Let's reach for the future and make it ours."

Full Speech Text

Senator McCain to Travel to Minnesota November 1

Monday, October 30, 2006
   
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Senator John McCain announced today his travel schedule for Wednesday, November 1, 2006.

Senator McCain will be in Minnesota with Governor Tim Pawlenty for a series of “Driving Minnesota Forward” rallies. The Senator and Governor Pawlenty will join Congressman Gil Gutknecht and Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Sandy Keith for the first rally in Rochester that will be held at Pemstar at 8:15 a.m. CST. At 10:15 a.m. CST, the Senator, Governor Pawlenty and Congressman Gutknecht will attend a rally at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center in Mankato.

Wednesday afternoon, Senator McCain and Governor Pawlenty will travel to Blaine for a rally at the National Sports Center’s Schwan Center Grand Hall at 12:00 p.m. CST. Following the event, the Senator and Governor Pawlenty will go to Duluth for a rally at Monaco Air Duluth at 3:00 p.m. CST.

Wednesday evening, Senator McCain and Governor Pawlenty will wrap up the rallies in Moorhead with an event at the Marriot Courtyard at 7:15 p.m. CST.

FOX News and South Carolina GOP Announce First 2008 Presidential Debate

FOX News and the South Carolina Republican Party
Present the First Presidential Debate of the 2008 Campaign

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – FOX News and the South Carolina Republican Party have jointly announced that they will present the first 2008 presidential debate on May 15, 2007. The debate, which is expected to attract the top Republican contenders for President, will be shown live on FOX News Channel (FNC) and FOX News Radio from the University of South Carolina’s Koger Center.

The South Carolina Republican Party is expected to hold its Presidential Primary in early February 2008. There has never been a candidate to lose the South Carolina primary and successfully capture the Party’s nomination for President.

In making this announcement, FOX News Executive Producer of Political Programs Marty Ryan said, “We look forward to presenting this debate to the nation and are proud to commit the air time and resources to the 2008 presidential election.”

Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party added, “We are excited that Fox News will carry this important debate to voters all across the country. The ‘First in the South’ Presidential Primary will again play a major role in electing our next president and it is very appropriate that the first in the nation Republican debate take place in South Carolina.”

University of South Carolina Andrew A. Sorenson added, “The University of South Carolina is proud and honored to host this national event on our campus. It is a great opportunity to observe the political process and to have candidates for president debate the critical issues of our time live in front of our faculty, staff, and students.”

Sen. Barack Obama Considers 2008 Presidential Run

Sen. Obama mulls '08 presidential run

Oct. 22: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told Tim Russert of NBC's "Meet the Press" that he has "thought about the possibility" of a 2008 presidential bid.

Jerry Brown 1992 Announcement

Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s Announcement Speech at Independence Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 21, 1991.

"We gather today at the most sacred site of American democracy. It was right here two centuries ago that our forebearers forged the miracle of America, and they called it "A New Order of the Ages."

I have come here today because I care about my country and its future, and I care about the future of this earth on which we all depend.

I love being an American and I love the freedom and the creativity it makes possible.

I love the things which our democracy stands for--the ideals and truths which were worked out just a few feet away. These ideas have power and they are stirring the human imagination in Eastern Europe and Burma and the furthest reaches of Asia.

In that spirit, I am here in Philadelphia to stand as a candidate for President of the United States in 1992."

Full Speech Text

Chris Dodd Campaign Launches New Website

For Immediate Release
October 19, 2006

The Dodd Campaign Launched ChrisDodd.com with this press release.

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Chris Dodd’s campaign announced the launch of their new website, ChrisDodd.com.

The website, home to large amounts of information on Senator Dodd and his agenda, has some interactive features, with more to be announced over the next few weeks. Of particular note is the Dodd Corps, a way for people to organize over the internet and share ideas about how to better our nation.

"The internet is revolutionizing the American political process and we need to embrace it as a vehicle for promoting democracy. Websites and blogs are a great and important way for people across the country to come together, participate in the process and have their voices and opinions heard," said Dodd. "With the help of the internet, we are able to bring together a variety of committed Americans from all over the country who want to make real change in the future of this country.”

Another key feature of the website is the "DoddPod" which allows visitors to send songs, podcasts and their own personal audio message for possible placement on Senator Dodd's iPod. The chrisdodd.com website allows for personal messages up to 10 megabyte in size (or approximately 10 minutes) to be uploaded.

"I use my iPod when I travel and I’m excited about the possibility of listening to what Americans have to say directly to me through their personal messages, their podcasts suggestions or music they listen to,” said Dodd.

Currently, ChrisDodd.com contains the following items:

• The DoddPod
• The Dodd Corps
• Ten Actions You Can Take Now
• Senator Dodd on the Issues
• Support Chris Dodd
• Senator Dodd’s biography
• A media section, including news clips, press releases and a press kit
• Hi-Res images of Senator Dodd

The website will continue to unveil new features in the weeks ahead, including Senator Dodd’s blog, integration with the photo sharing site Flickr.com, web-based videos and more.

Governor George W. Bush 2000 Website Redesign

The George W. Bush Website was redesigned on this day in 1999.

Governor Bush Unveils Innovative New Website
AUSTIN, TX "Governor George W. Bush today launched an innovative new design for his presidential campaign website, www.georgewbush.com, that includes personalization, a Hispanic site, a special section for children and 50 individual state websites.
"The internet is an efficient and innovative way to reach people directly with information and issue positions," said Gov. Bush. "This new design allows individuals to personalize the website to their interests and to get the latest news about the campaign in both Spanish and English. I hope it will be a useful tool for people who are interested in learning more about my presidential campaign."
The redesigned site allows people to create a personalized page with news and information in which they are interested. For example, a voter from Virginia who is most interested in education and economic issues can create a home page that always contains the latest news on those issues, information about the campaign in Virginia and photos and details about the Governor's travel to Virginia. After the individual site is created, it comes up on the screen each time the person logs in.
The new website also includes a comprehensive Hispanic site. This site provides information in Spanish including campaign speeches, positions on issues, news releases, and video testimonials of Hispanic supporters.
The Youth Zone portion of the website is designed to teach children more about the presidential election by using America's game, baseball, as a kid-friendly reference point. Children can learn about the election process and see the differences and similarities between politics and baseball in a fun and appealing way.
The newly redesigned website also offers the following information and options:
Campaign activities in each of the 50 states;
Photos and details of Gov. Bush's travel across the country to meet with voters;
Text of Gov. Bush's speeches, including a video link to view a speech;
A photo journal of Gov. Bush's life from his childhood in Midland, to the birth of his twin daughters to his work as the managing general partner of the Texas Rangers;
The opportunity to sign up for volunteer activities;
Information about Gov. Bush policy proposals.

Dennis Kucinich 2004 Announcement

Dennis John Kucinich Formal Announcement Speech in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, October 13, 2003.

"Thank you for joining me for this important moment, not only for myself but for the Cleveland community.

This moment, this moment, which evolved as the dream of an inner city child who once lived in a car, to become President of the United States celebrates not my potential but the creative potential of each and every child to be somebody, to be loved, to serve, to lead, to be carried into the myth and magic of the express power of the American Dream and our responsibility to make each child's dreams come true.

Cleveland is my home. Cleveland is where my heart resides. Cleveland is where my dreams started. Cleveland is where I've learned the lessons I want to share with every American: The lesson that one person can make a difference; the lesson that anyone can, and anyone should be able to rise from humble beginnings to lead a nation; the lesson that we can change the outcome; the lesson of the power of the human heart, and the power of the human spirit to transform the world. I have seen miracles. I have seen the people of Cleveland create miracles. During my career you have helped me to save a municipal electric system when it was already sold. You have helped me to keep hospitals open when they were already closed. You have helped me to save a steel mill, to help keep that bright light burning over the industrial valley when other communities' hopes were extinguished. Because of you, because of you, because of you, I know the power of hope, the power of optimism, the power of light!

So, by the lights which guided my grandfather to America; by the light still shining celebrating public power; by the lights which still emblazon the sky over Cleveland's steel valley, I stand here, ready to light up America. I am Dennis John Kucinich and I am running for President of the United States!"

Full Speech Text