presidential campaign duncan hunter presidential campaign began fourteen term congressman vietnam war veteran california announced intentions run republican nomination president united_states january campaign hunter emphasized conservative credentials focusing issues border security war terrorism trade second tier republican candidates consistently receiving percent support republicans national polls campaign reached high point qualified delegate wyoming hunter dropped race january following poor turnout nevada background hunter served lieutenant vietnam war awarded air medal vietnam service medal efforts battlefield return home hunter pursued career law admitted bar years later won election republican reagan revolution onset campaign hunter served congress representing california 42nd 45th 52nd congressional districts tenure boasted lifetime rating successes included passage legislation leading construction mile double fence pacific_ocean border helped pass secure fence act provided construction additional miles fence member hunter pushed increased military spending military technology chairman committee remained position democratic_party won majority house mid term election announcement october crowd people naval base san diego waterfront hunter announced formation committee begin raising campaign funds organizing supporters republican_party presidential nomination reasoned going long road challenging road going rough think right thing country seek advice party leaders making decision new_york_times described surprise professor speculated hunter run attempt find preparation loss democrats heavily favored reclaim house political analysts saw little chance campaign success government professor argued low recognition following party hunter faces extremely long odds announcement hunter received endorsement retired air force brigadier general won january arizona straw poll projected tier candidates including massachusetts governor senator john_mccain arizona new_york_city mayor days later hunter filed papers officially begin presidential campaign campaign developments half order build support early campaign hunter participated local straw polls march south_carolina poll hunter finished close statistical tie showing impressed republican referred hunter true ronald_reagan conservative support following month won south_carolina straw poll tied second place straw polls hunter thanked counties support claimed provided huge boost added clear message maintaining strong national defense securing border amnesty holding china trade protecting life voters campaign issues flash expense don jet army paid staff conservative message true end americans want hunter participated televised republican_party debates january noted role south_carolina debate discussed experience border security built border fence san_diego claimed arguing contributed reductions smuggling drop crime speaking bill congress passed build miles border fence southwest noted moment miles fence built bush administration case border enforcement month hunter participated debate featured cnn forum discussed experience chairman voiced support war iraq training iraqi battalions security hunter speculated iran helping arm iraq asked president discovered iran developing nuclear weapon hunter stated authorize use tactical nuclear weapons end development way discussing foreign policy hunter turned attention issue immigration mentioned importance border wall evoked audience memory fence helped build congressional district illegal immigrants fence san_diego sign olympics immediately end debate hunter took opportunity criticize john_mccain complained democratic senator massachusetts exerted influence men describing kennedy wing republican_party second half poll early july showed hunter percent support placing campaign john_mccain addition hunter won backing political commentator hunter described particularly articulate conservative view late august campaign communication director commented chances hunter winning nomination pushing string maze came hunter spoke students brown student center campaign border security fair trade china continued campaigning hearing statement won days later tyler victory straw poll hunter received media attention response iranian president invitation speak students columbia_university criticized school decision stating left wing leaders support troops support adversaries called federal funding university statements resulted criticism liberals described hunter proposal dangerous improper unconstitutional later month hunter campaign website anti war activists hours words dot war images children posted hunter site cited appeared connection analysis identified location germany revealed attempted change website times successful alteration october florida debate expressing trying divide republican_party hunter raised issue thought bring participants time felt democrat party sic lost identity compared kennedy administration failed president ronald_reagan actions el_salvador described reagan el_salvador policy successful advancing freedom noted spoke military el_salvador fighting guys united_states military iraq referred republican_party following debate hunter learned parts congressional district burning result california october immediately stalled campaigning short period help constituents recovery effort hunter criticized connected lack resources war iraq argued conclusions invalid san_diego direct access troops helicopters equipment update hunter remarked critics got creative writers link november hunter received endorsement assembly cited hunter true republican shared views days later veterans day hunter campaign released statement reflecting veterans thank veterans sufficiently represented finest human qualities veterans sacrifice character general described sacrifice comrades arms immediate mission hand greater sense sacrifice millions americans know know san_diego selected hunter grand marshal city veterans day parade considered selection honor hunter participated november cnn youtube debate notably received question military don ask don tell policy brig introduced homosexual asked republican candidates think american men women uniform professional serve hunter thanked general service argued sole issue unit statement secretary state debate found member hillary_clinton lesbian gay bisexual americans cnn removed footage question future day hunter sent letter hillary_clinton read dear clinton plant retired brig sent ask question cnn youtube debate night florida send merry christmas hillary_clinton campaign respond letter december survey excluding voters hunter tied fourth place nevada michigan hunter tied thompson fifth place percent according poll los_angeles_times columnist pointed hunter support polls came entirely republican men garnered demographic publication poll december women support nearly zero hunter received endorsement senator new_hampshire december letter new_hampshire republicans ahead nation smith cited hunter best candidate carry reagan torch qualified candidate protect conservative values primary caucus results hunter finished seventh january iowa republican receiving percent votes cast delegates subsequently denied invitation january debate hunter meet percent polling threshold necessary participation hunter focused iowa putting resources primary state new_hampshire unlike candidates hunter traveled wyoming january wyoming republican county conventions mainstream media largely ignored event hunter campaigned state candidate hunter won national delegate alternate delegate finishing place caucus winner second place day hunter addressed won endorsement receiving thirds majority votes cast day members assembly cited hunter choice president stand life support constitution 2nd amendment rights security borders limited government aspects campaign platform nation new_hampshire primary january hunter finished seventh place percent vote withdrawal finishing place michigan republican primary receiving percent nevada republican percent south_carolina republican primary zero hunter dropped race january withdrawal speech delivered naval base san_diego pier announced campaign october hunter thanked supporters expressed amusement family campaign trail influence debate party failure campaign gain traction driven issues national security border fence emergence china need reverse bad trade policy campaign worthwhile hunter family lot fun days later hunter endorsed arkansas governor republican nomination late david_letterman fun hunter relative obscurity making mock statement withdrawal saying don know actually looks like hunter picture character actor endorsements aftermath following withdrawal hunter remained congress term expired son won republican primary seat younger hunter went win election succeeded father
Duncan Hunter presidential campaign, 2008