GOP presidential candidate drops out
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Citing a late start and a front-loaded primary calendar, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore announced Saturday he is dropping his bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
Gilmore said in a statement that his short-lived campaign "has been a positive and rewarding experience for me, for my family, and for my supporters," but he also expressed frustration with today's nomination process.
"I have come to believe that it takes more than a positive vision for our nation's future to successfully compete for the Presidency," he said. "I believe that it takes years of preparation to put in place both the political and financial infrastructure to contest what now amounts to a one-day national primary in February."
Approximately two dozen states have either moved or are considering moving their presidential primaries or caucuses to February 5, 2008.
Gilmore says he plans to form a state political action committee to support local Republican candidates in Virginia and also hinted at seeking office again in the future.
"I will be actively looking for other opportunities to continue in public service in the Commonwealth of Virginia," he said.
He began his presidential campaign in January.
Looks like he'll go after Warner's Senate seat instead.
i was wondering does jim gilmore have a chance to be on the list for choosing running mates?
Dropped his Presidential Campaign? Heck I didn't know he even started one he did? Was a lousy governor of VA he must of been truly deluded to think he had any chance of becoming president. If there's an ex-governor of VA that should consider running it would be Mark Warner. Jim Gilmore? Political hack.
will gilmore be on the list of people for VP?
Jim Who??
Never heard of this fool.
VOTE FOR LOU DOBBS, PRESIDENT 2008
Ha, there's a shock... Worst governor in recent history in Virginia... A Republican leaves office in a red state with an approval rating below 50% and he thinks he can become President? Or heck, that he can run for anything again here? He's got to be joking...
Thank God. The less Republicans ruining this country, the better. After 8 plus years of Bush and his band of crooks,the US needs an Independent LEADER who'll correct all of the neglected issues facing the USA!!
Here is a one-issue guy who became VA governor wuth the bumper sticker slogan: "NO CAR TAX." This clever deal ending up costing VA taxpayers many millions of $ and caused the election of two democratic governors – Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Mr. Gilmore is a washed up has been, who couldn't make it as VA gov, or as Repuplican national chair (where he lost many GOP seats), or as a last minute Pres candidate.
Hey Jim – get a life and get a job. Your track record is not impressive.
WHO IS THIS & WHO CARES
Gilmore was a terrible Governor here in Virginia, he got into office on the pledge that he would wipe out the personal property tax, it never fully happened and all it caused was the State raised taxes else where to make up for what they lost on his pledge, he ran Virginia down while in office and it took Governor Warner 4 years to get it right again, now Governor Tim Kane is making it a bad State to live in again by passing the new driving laws!! do any of these people know what there doing? Gilmore wouldent make a good Dog Catcher!
One less person standing in Ron Paul's way.
And so the road to Giuliani/McCain/Romney/ or Thompson begins...
I could see him being a VP runner, or persue Warner's Senate seat if he announces he is retiring.
One thing I liked about him....is that he was only 1 of 3 Republican candidates that claimed Libby should not have been pardoned.
Jim Gilmore was the worst governor our state ever had. Wrecked our state's finances for one unaffordable tax cut. I hope this guy never returns to public office again.
ANY GUESS on who is next to stop their 2008 bid?
I guess CNN lost so much face this week with Mr. Numbnuts Sanjay Gupta trying to take on Michael Morre and boy did that Doc get served...big time.
Now you are alerting us that a non entity has droped out of the race.
Please post a story about me and how I too am dropping out of the race. I am just as important, if not more.
Jack Jett
http://www.jackejett.com
Tommy Thompson and Huckabee will go next. Probably after the next debate.
Gilmore couldn't be elected for dog catcher in Virginia. Talk about EGO !!!!!! The good news for Virginia is he has created more Democrats in the state than any recruiting campagin the Democrats could have sponsored.
As the minor candidates continue to drop out, get ready for an incredible surge by Ron Paul. He's the only sensible Republican.
I too am awaiting the effect of the dropout of other candidates on Ron Paul. Who would Paul choose for a Vice President? And I wonder who else will drop out before the August 5th debate. Tommy Thompson?
I would like to see Ron Paul choose Alen Keyes as VP. They are almost identical in ideology.
Now that it's down to 9 candidates, McCain is dropping like a lead baloon, and Ron Paul is placing 3rd in the money race, I wonder if they are going to start calling him (Ron Paul) a 1st tier candidate.
It was only a matter of time before he gave up, given the nature of the campaign he ran. He had limited financial resources, no name recognition beyond his wife, plus the raw talent and charisma were never present. However, I think he could have been a viable candidate if there had been adequate preparation. His decision to run seemed like a last minute "why not" thing.
As for VP, I think it will depend how damaged the other top candidates are after the primaries. If they are all somewhat "clean" than the winner would be well served to pick another top line candidate representing a different GOP faction to unify the party, Rudy Giuliani picking Fred Thompson for example. It’s what Reagan did with Bush back in 1980. Gilmore has a faction but it’s not iconic.