For the first time since 1928, both major parties have open contests for the Presidential nomination without a sitting President or Vice President in the running. Politics1 presents a "first look" at those people being mentioned as possible, likely, speculative, or draft candidates for President in 2008.
(Note: I get a bunch of email telling me this is really only the first truly open contest since 1952 ... but then-VP Alben Barkley did in fact seek the Democratic Presidential nomination. He ended his serious run after labor refused to back him because they thought he was too old, but Barkley continued on as a regional "favorite son" candidate. Thus, Barkley did run in 1952 -- even if he found no success.)
REPUBLICAN PARTY:
US Senator John McCain (R-Arizona)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OTHER REPUBLICANS
DEMOCRATIC PARTY:
US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York)
US Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OTHER DEMOCRATS
THIRD PARTY and
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES:
CONSTITUTION PARTY:
Chuck Baldwin (Florida) - Baptist pastor, radio talk show host, conservative activist, and 2004 VP nominee
Don Grundman (California) - Chiropractor, anti-tax activist & frequent candidate.
Alan Keyes (R-Maryland) - Former US Ambassador, conservative activist, and frequent candidate.
Roy Moore (Alabama) - Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and Religious Right activist.
Diane Beall Templin (California) - Attorney, anti-gay activist and frequent candidate.
GREEN PARTY:
Jesse Johnson (West Virginia) - Actor, filmmaker & '04 Governor Candidate.
Cynthia McKinney (California) - Ex-Georgia Congresswoman, Ex-State Rep., attorney and ex-Democrat.
Kent Mesplay (California) - Biomedical engineer, '06 US Senate candidate and '04 Presidential candidate.
Kat Swift (Texas) - State Party Co-Chair, progressive activist & newspaper credit manager.
LIBERTARIAN PARTY:
Bob Barr (Georgia) - Former GOP Congressman, former US Attorney and former CIA official.
Jim Burns (Nevada) - Ex-State LP Chair & frequent candidate.
Mike Gravel (Virginia) - Former Democratic US Senator from Alaska & former Alaska House Speaker.
Dave Hollist (California) - Bus driver and frequent LP Presidential hopeful.
Dan Imperato (Florida) - Businessman.
Mike "Jingo" Jingozian (Oregon) - Software company founder & '00 city council candidate.
Steve Kubby (California) - Businessman, '98 Governor nominee & marijuana legalization activist.
Alden Link (New York) - Manufacturing executive & Army veteran.
Robert Milnes (New Jersey) - Progressive activist.
George Phillies (Massachusetts) - College professor, writer, LP "Reform" activist & '96 US Senate nominee.
Wayne Allyn Root (Nevada) - Sports handicapper, author & TV show host.
Mary Ruwart (Texas) - Research scientist, medical professor, author, Libertarian activist & frequent candidate.
Christine Smith (Colorado) - Progressive activist & writer.
PARTY OF SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION: |
   |
Gloria LaRiva (California)
Presidential Nominee
Eugene Puryear (District of Columbia)
Vice Presidential Nominee |
SOCIALIST EQUALITY PARTY:
No Candidates Identified To Date
NOTE: THE SWP WILL ALSO NAME AN ALTERNATE (SURROGATE) SWP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE IN SOME STATES, WHERE NEEDED, AS CALERO WAS NOT U.S. BORN AND IS NOT CONSTITUTIONALLY QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE BALLOT.
WORKERS WORLD PARTY:
No Candidates Identified To Date
INDEPENDENT & WRITE-IN CANDIDATES:
Former US Senator Sam Nunn (D-Georgia)
Stephen P. "Steve" Adams (Independent-Kentucky)
Donald K. Allen (Independent-Ohio)
Blake Ashby (Independent-Missouri)
Terry "Tee" Barkdull (New American Party-Nevada)
John Taylor Bowles (National Socialist Order of America-South Carolina)
Clark B. Braxton (Independent-California)
Richard H. Clark (Independent-Maryland)
Don Cordell (Independent-California)
Claire Cruise (Independent-Georgia)
Orion Karl Daley (Balanced Party-New York)
Christopher J. Dardzinski (Write In-Michigan)
Michael David Elder (Independent-Texas)
Cris Ericson (Marijuana Party-Vermont)
Nick Farmer (Write In-Indiana)
Quay Fortuna (Ward Republic Party-Iowa)
Mark B. Graham (Independent-Florida)
Pete Grasso (Independent-Virginia)
Jon Greenspon (Independent-California)
Jack Grimes (United Fascist Union-Pennsylvania)
Bob W. Hargis (Independent-Oklahoma)
William "Bill" Ingram (Independent-North Carolina)
Paul Jensen (Independent American-Michigan)
Arnold M. Jones (Independent American-Utah)
Rob Jorgensen (Independent-North Carolina)
Daniel Kingrey (Independent-New Hampshire)
Steve Kissing (Independent-Ohio)
David Koch (Independent-Utah)
Brad Lord-Leutwyler (Independent-Nevada)
Joe Martyniuk (Independent-Illinois)
West Marcus (Independent-Alabama)
David Masters (Independent-North Carolina)
Charles Maxham (Give Me Back America Party-New Jersey)
James McCall (Independent-Ohio)
Frank McEnulty (New American Independent Party-California)
Tom Millican (Independent-North Carolina)
Phillip W. Morrow (Independent-Texas)
James Mote (Independent-?)
Ralph Nader (Independent-Connecticut)
Jeff "Petro" Petkevicius (Independent-Louisiana)
Arthur J. Regan (Independent-Massachusetts)
Gary Rostad (Independent-California)
"Average Joe" Schriner (Independent-Ohio)
Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey (Vampire, Witches & Pagan Party-New Jersey)
Charles Symonds (Independent-California)
Diane Templin (American-California)
Ben Thompson (Independent-Minnesota)
Michael "Mic" Tienken (Independent-Minnesota)
Da Vid (Light Party-California)
Lanakila Washington (Humanist Party-New York)
Lisa Weltman (Independent-Michigan)
Carl Whitaker (Independent-Tennessee)
Ruth Bryant White (Independent-Nevada)
Rick Williams (Independent-Tennessee)
Kelcey Wilson (Independent-California)
