Thank you, Duncan Hunter; Update: Full statement added
Update: Hunter’s full statement…
We started this campaign a year ago right here, in San Diego Harbor, against the backdrop of American Naval power. We launched a campaign emphasizing a strong national defense, enforceable borders and restoring the industrial base of America.
Today we end this campaign. The Nevada caucuses reflecting only 2% of the vote for me. I ran the campaign exactly the way I wanted to, and at this point not being able to gain traction in conservative states of Nevada and South Carolina, it’s time to allow our volunteers and supporters to focus on the campaigns that remain viable.
It’s time for me to gear up for 2008’s defense bill that will be put together over the coming weeks. There is work to be done in the areas of troop protection and new capabilities to be deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. And over the horizon, the emergence of Communist China as a military super power will require a new emphasis on U.S. capabilities in undersea warfare, space, and long range air-power.
The best way to maintain a new era of peace is for the U.S. to remain strong. Over the coming year I will endeavor to help craft a defense bill that meets the new security challenges.
Since our campaign began over 200,000 additional manufacturing jobs have been lost. 1.8 million jobs have left the U.S. for China. This fracturing of the U.S. industrial base is a long term threat to America. I hope that the remaining candidates will recognize it and address it. As the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, I will seek to address it.
Only hours ago a border patrolman was killed in the California Desert. This tragedy emphasizes more than ever the compelling case for the completion of the border fence.
Since I wrote the bill that mandates 854 miles of double border fence only a few miles have been constructed. Over the next year in Congress I will do everything in my power to get that fence built.
Finally, for Lynn and me, the campaign over the last year has shown us this: America is a wonderful country. Our people have great character and goodness, and the meeting of new friends has enriched our lives.
The failure of our campaign to gain traction is mine and mine alone. But we have driven the issues of national security, the border fence, the emergence of China and the need to reverse bad trade policy. Because of that, this campaign has been very worthwhile, and for the Hunter family, a lot of fun.
To our friends and supporters and volunteers: many thanks. And now it’s time for me to focus on developing a 2008 defense bill that serves our troops and our nation.
Thanks, and God Bless America.
Duncan Hunter
***
Rep. Duncan Hunter bowed out of the GOP presidential race tonight. Here’s the annnouncement. And here’s more.
He brought substance, experience, integrity, and a commitment to the nation’s sovereignty and strong defense to the table.
Thank you, Rep. Hunter.
Remember his motto: “Don’t whine. Keep working.”
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Amen.
It’s a shame that somebody like him can’t gain any traction.
Hopefully he’ll make a successful run in the future.
to bad the truly good ones are exiting. if thompson goes, I’ll have to support Romney. Romney/Thompson works for me if that would happen… it’s still so early and a shame a few states have done this to us.
We are in deep doo-doo. But don’t panic till super tuesday.
Another win for the LSM who refused to cover his run.
Totally agree. Larry Sabato from UVA has been pressing for a change in the primary system, with groups of states rotating the order in which they poll. I can’t stand this business with a couple small states that have little GOP diversity deciding for the rest of us for whom we get to vote.
I’m hoping Fred! makes it to Tsunami Tuesday so I can vote for him. BTW he’s speaking live right now, carried on FNC.
(Thanks Michelle!)
Duncan Hunter was one of the serious candidates, in my view.
Too bad the ’serious candidates’ aren’t doing better with the voters.
You’re right. So why didn’t he do better with Republicans? I really don’t understand it.
USA Today said in the paper yesterday that every since 1980, the South Carolina primary winner has gone on to be the party’s nominee. I hope that ends this year. From what I am reading, the winner looks to be McCain or Huckabee. I can’t stomach either one of those guys. I at least have some respect for McCain, but nothing but contempt for Huckabee.
I could support a Romney/Thompson ticket too. Not my favorite but it sure beats what else we are seeing.
Keenly disappointed here…
Andrea
Situation normal for politics today-the best candidates don’t stand a chance of winning,because they have too much integrity,so we are left with almosts.Now when are the others going to look at their electability objectively? Guiliani,Paul,Huckabee,Thompson-do you really think you have a chance against the Dems in November? While I would vote for any of you over the Democrat,none of you can garner enough votes to win.
Take heart Congressman Hunter, your country still needs you. Thanks for your devotion and stout heart. Thanks.
Grrr.
Hey Guys.. He could still be V/P.. We can HOPE.
I am terribly disappointed. I was hoping that Hunter would hang in there for Super
Tuesday. Hopefully, Fred will still be here in March, when we have our primaries.
OT-connected with a piece by thereisnospoon through the daily dish and read about
all of the HRC camps dirty tricks and it wasn’t until I finished reading that I looked at
the heading..daily kos. This is why I don’t like the caucus method of selecting
candidates. It is so easy to pull this sort of thing. Much prefer straight out primary
setup.
So bows out our best choice for a truly conservative candidate. Too bad he couldn’t get the support he deserves. He is a class act and I would like to see him as our future Homeland Security Secretary. I am confident he will protect our borders.
The good news is that Thompson should get his supporters.
It’s tough being a Representative in a race full of marquee-name governors and senators. Too bad; I would’ve loved for Hunter to be the frontrunner.
It’s a sad day in American history when the 2 most conservative candidates can’t get past the 1st 6 measly small states.
I thank Mr. Hunter and Mr. Tancredo for showing me there is real conservatives serving this country, even in defeat.
Its a shame Duncan could never get the media attraction that Gomer Huckabee did. Thats all it woudl have taken given the lack of alternatives for Conservatives this time around.
And it looks like Thompson may be done as well. Thanks for supporting Conservatives like Thompson SO well Michelle and AP with your snark and constant negativity - with “friends” like you , conservatives need no enemies.
Whats a conservative supposed to do now that the party has clearly left us?
Sen. Kay Baily Hutchison used a sneaky amendment (Dec. 07) that gutted the Secure Fence Act that Duncan Hunter authored.
I’m getting tired of Republicans who aren’t.
Wecome back to CA Duncan Hunter. We need you to protect us from RINOS who would have open borders.
Maybe Fred will make it to the Big Nod and take Duncan Hunter with him?
Katieanne #8:
I think the GOP is playing a “prevent” defense against Hillary and basing their fears on the 2006 election debacle. They’re simply afraid to embrace a conservative candidate. Of course the next statement (Azygos #5) comes into play too.
It’s an opportunity missed. I know the senior Hunter is leaving Congress after this term, but hopefully his public service days aren’t finished yet. If they are though he has nothing to be ashamed of.
But the first Presidential candidate I ever contributed to is out. *sigh*
Michael Swartz
http://www.monoblogue.us
Thank you, Mr. Hunter. And I can only say that I wish we could have done better for you.
I wish Mr Hunter was a Texas Congressman, I wish there was more of him to go around. It seems Rep. Hutchinson, will do whatever the President, tells her to do? Meanwhile the Okies got it right and attrition is working, I don’t suppose the MSM followed up. They -illegal aliens, are packing up and leaving Oklahoma. Jobs are still being filled, Imagine by a legal workforce.
Love you Mr. Hunter!
Duncan Hunter - now THERE is a man of superior class!
One can only wonder why at least Fox News didn’t give such a man a decent shake!
I knew when I heard that he had Chuck Yeager’s endorsement that he was a solid and reliable person, the kind you want to have your back!
It is a sorry statement about America that his candidacy didn’t do better - it isn’t his own shame as he claimed - it is America’s.
Just as Tom McClintock going down before Dah Ahnold Man was the greatest shame to date of California.
Duncan Hunter, God bless and keep you, you have all my prayers and blessings, for you, your family, your friends, staff, and supporters - THANKS!
From a Texan who Remembers The Alamo!
It is the Phil Gramm scenario all over again.
Conservatives don’t seem to be able to mount effective campaigns of late and we are stuck with a liberal nominee.
I like Mitt, but can’t vote for another president who will play footsie with Ted Kennedy.
Count me out for the Republican vote until a conservative is on the ballot.
Sad day.
I share the sentiments of everyone who has posted here.
I like Duncan Hunter, but his economic take was a little off-the-wall. His statement about losing jobs to China was disengenuous to say the least.
But that didn’t worry me too much, because I figured that he would do something to stop the high marginal taxing rate and general anti-business environment here in the states.
The only thing that has saved us thus far, is the far worse attitudes towards business in most of the developed world.
#29 “losing jobs to China was disengenuous to say the least.” Is that “disingenuous” as in “not straight forward, not candid, not frank, insincere”. Please enlighten as to how he was ‘disengenuous’ with that particular statement.
God Bless and Godspeed Mr Hunter.
Tho the media did all they could to ignore you and what you had to say, they can never take away from you all the years of service to your country, both in uniform and in Congress.
Thank You
Semper Fi
DLTDHYITAOTWO, Boo Freakin Hoo, Hack.
NOW all of you who want to say there are no conservatives in the race can speak up.
And scooter he is a hack in what way? Anything intelligent to say?
Extremely disappointing that the true conservative candidate is out. The republican party is turning in to the old democrat party. Our society no longer wants the freedom to take care of themselves, we want “free” everything. And too many are just too plain ignorant to realize that they are the ones who will be footing the bill.
Goodbye.
A shame this particular blog-space, along with Hot Air and the rest of the “conservatives” — and that includes the Mighty Limbaugh behind his “golden microphone” — couldn’t have paid more attention (and given more support) to Hunter before this sad day.
It’s entirely understandable that the Lamestream Media ignored him; he was a threat to the panderers they’ve rooted shamelessly for over the decades.
But why MM could never muster more than the occasion weak mention of Hunter is beyond me.
If all being honest and principled among a field of hack politicians gets you is a lukewarm “goodbye,” we might as well bag it now and start rolling out the red carpet for The Hildebeest.
That was a very classy announcement he gave, Michelle. He did bring a lot to the table.
It is regrettable that he never got traction in the campaign. Duncan Hunter was probably the closest candidate to what I want to see in a president.
I hate to fathom that with what we may now be left to sit as the most powerful individual in the free world.
I got elected to be a declared caucus delegate for Duncan Hunter for about 6 hours. Time well spent.
I also declared that Fred was my second choice, then Mitt. The only way to beat Shamnesty ‘09.
You are misinformed, as I was until 3 months ago. If you have time to get informed, read this history.
The first and only Candidate I ever contributed to. I hope he runs for Senate somewhere next election and then for Pres. 6 years later. I’ll triple my contribution. With Fred and Tancredo gone now too, I guess it’s my a toss up between who I dislike the least.