With polls showing Republicans lacking a front-runner for their presidential nomination in 2016, in recent days draft efforts have claimed momentum for two political outsiders -- Judge Andrew Napolitano and physician Dr. Ben Carson.
Last weekend, Larry Hunter from the"'Draft Andrew Napolitano For President" committee insisted the effort he helps lead was making progress.
We are focused on convincing the judge the support is there to make a run, Hunter emailed supporters. And the numbers are making the case. We added 100,000 fans on Facebook in just the last three months taking us from 30,000 to more than 130,000. Thats quite an influx of support.
Hunter is aiming high, looking to get 1 million supporters by the elections in November.
We have almost 200,000 signatures on a petition to get the judge to enter the race, Hunter insisted. The movement is going viral. People are fed up with the status quo, with the failure among the current crop of would-be candidates to explain conservative ideas in a way that resonates with the American people.
Hunter insisted Napolitano has the right credentials as a candidate and to sit in the Oval Office. He has been a judge, a TV commentator, a journalist and a leading spokesman for adherence to the Constitution, limited government and smart policies on key issues such as immigration, taxes and the economy, Hunter wrote. He makes sense as a candidate because he makes sense as a person. People listen to him and like him, and he has the right views to save our country from the horrific malaise in which it now finds itself.
But he is not a run-of-the-mill politician, Hunter added. He does not hold one office and look longingly and constantly for another.
Supporters of drafting Carson -- who became a national figure with his opposition to President Barack Obamas federal health-care law -- to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 are claiming momentum. John Phillip Sousa IV, great-grandson and namesake of the celebrated composer of patriotic marches, is leading the national "Draft Ben Carson for President" committee and sent an email out to conservatives this weekend to make the case for his candidate, noting that more than 200,000 Americans ... have signed the petition urging Dr. Ben Carson to run for president of the United States.
Sousa praised Carson for attacking Obamas federal health-care law at the National Prayer Breakfast back in March.
At that moment, Dr. Carson captured the imagination of the American people, Sousa insisted. He became an instant front-runner for the Republican nomination for president in 2016.
Ben Carson will win, Sousa added. As president he will heal America and unite us as one people working together to achieve the American dream. Ben Carson is a tea party conservative. He has supported the tea party since it began and he has practical, common-sense solutions to the problems that plague our land.
Sousa argued that Carson, as an African-American, can win over black voters and keep conservatives in the Republican column, and can beat the Democratic nominee in 2016.
U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., has already expressed interest in running for the Republican nomination in 2016. Other potential Republican candidates include former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Gov. Jan Brewer of Arizona, former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
