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The following is a timeline of events leading up to the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election:
- October 7 - Maureen Dowd writes article in New York Times entitled "Can Hillary Upgrade?" which claims that Hillary Clinton, serving as the junior Senator from New York, has mollified her criticism of the then-pending invasion of Iraq because "Clinton knows that any woman who hopes to be elected president cannot afford to be seen as too much of a dove," and that she might seek the Democratic Party's nomination in 2008.
- November 27 - In an interview with Germany's Bunte magazine, Hillary Clinton states that she will not be a candidate for the presidency in 2004, and when told that some were disappointed with that decision, she replied: "I know. Well, perhaps I'll do it next time around," widely interpreted that she will consider a run in the 2008 race.
- November 9 - Following Senator John Kerry's loss in the 2004 election, Cameron Kerry, John Kerry's brother and political confidante stated in regards to another presidential run: "That's conceivable... I don't know why that [last week's loss] should necessarily be it. I think it's too early to assess. But I think that he is going to continue to fight on for the values, ideals, and issues this campaign is about." [1]
- February 7 - After the reelection and inauguration of George W. Bush, in an interview with Fox News Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney is asked whether he would seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2008. He replied: "I've got my plans laid out, I'm going to serve this president for the next four years and then I'm out of here." When pressed further, Cheney also responded to a potential presidential run by stating "Not only no, but hell no" and quoted General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous statement "If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve."
- March 11 - Southern Republican Leadership Conference Hotline Straw Poll: Bill Frist 526(36.9)%,Mitt Romney 205(14.4)%, George Allen 147(10.3)%, John McCain 66(4.6)%, Mike Huckabee 54(3.8)%; George Pataki 38(2.7)%. Condi Rice 32(2.2)%, Sam Brownback 22(1.5)%, Rudy Giuliani 15(1.1)%, Newt Gingrich 13(0.9)%, Chuck Hagel 3(0.2)%, Scattered 43(3.0)% and Pres. Bush (as a show of support for the war) got 147(10.3)%—This is the first cattle call poll of the cycle.[1]
- March 21 - Delaware Senator and 1988 Democratic primary candidate, Joseph Biden announces that he will seek the Democratic nomination in 2008.
- April 17 - Former Democratic Alaska Senator and an active, but unsuccessful 1972 candidate for Vice President on the Democratic ticket, Mike Gravel, stated his intention to run in a speech before the National Press Club.
- May 20 Wisconsin State Republican Convention Straw Poll: George Allen 61(17%), Rudy Giuliani 60(17%), Newt Gingrich 53(15%), Condi Rice 50(14%), Mitt Romney 40(11%), John McCain 37(10%), No response 15(4%), Sam Brownback 11(3%), Bill Frist 8 (2%). Tom Tancredo 8 (2%), George Pataki 4 (1%) Mike Huckabee 2 (1%), and Chuck Hagel 1(0%)[2]
- May 22 - It is announced that Democratic Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008."
- June 2- Minnestoa Republicans hold a straw poll at their annual convention. Results: Newt Gingrich 210 votes. George Allen 79 votes, followed by Condi Rice with 58 and John McCain at 55 votes; Jeb Bush 32 votes, Mitt Romney 29, and Rudy Giuliani 19.
- October 12 - Former Democratic Virginia Governor and widely-speculated 2008 contender Mark Warner states that he will not seek the presidency in 2008.
- October 22 - After his decisive victory in November 2004, freshman Illinois Senator Barack Obama stated that "I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years," he has changed his mind about a presidential run in October 2006, stating: "I don’t want to be coy about this: given the responses that I’ve been getting over the last several months, I have thought about the possibility, but I have not thought about it with the seriousness and depth that I think is required." "After November 7, I'll sit down, I'll sit down and consider, and if at some point I change my mind, I will make a public announcement and everybody will be able to go at me."
- October 30 - Republican Representative Duncan Hunter from California announces the formation of an exploratory committee for a presidential run. [2]
- November 9- Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack files papers with the FEC announcing that he's a candidate for the Democratic nomination.
- November 10 Senator John McCain announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committe.
- November 11 Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold withdraws his name from the race.
- November 13 Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, formed a presidential exploratory committee to begin raising money for a possible campaign for the Republican nomination. [3]
- November 15 - Former Wisconsin Govenor Tommy Thompson announces that he intends to form a presidential exploratory committee in early 2007. [4]
- November 17 Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum withdraws his name from the race.
- November 29 Sen.Bill Frist of Tennessee withdraws his name from the race.
- November 30 Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack publicly and formally announces he is running for president.
- December 1 On the Tonight Show, Illinois Sen. Barak Obama lets it be known that he's considering a presidential bid.
- December 2 Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh announces the formation of an exploratory committee.
- December 3 Former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle withdraws his name from the race.
- December 3 The New York Times prints an article on how Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is in discussions with NY Democratic leaders as to setting up a Presidential race.
- December 4 Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas announces formation of an exploratory committe.
- December 9 Sen. George Allen of Virginia, who had lost a close race for reelection, announces that he won't run for president. He was at one time considered a front-runner.
- December 9 New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson denies he actually announced that he was running in a Fox News interview earlier in the week.
- December 11 Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich announces his plans to run for president in a report by the Associated Press.
- January 4 -First fully Democratic-controlled Congress in 12 years takes office.
- February 1- Democratic National Committee convenes its annual winter meeting featuring the 2008 White House hopefuls, Washington, DC
- May 15- The South Carolina Republican Party will host a presidential debate at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
- August 11 -"Iowa I" Repubican straw poll.
- December -Deadline to get on the ballot for the New Hampshire primary
[edit] References
- ^ Greenpapers.com
- ^ Greepapers.com
