Most on Hill sit on sidelines as ’08 candidates spar

Presidential candidates have largely been unsuccessful in persuading members of Congress to back their White House bids; only 33 senators and 216 House legislators have issued public endorsements.

Lawmakers provide a variety of reasons as to why they haven’t gotten involved. Some, like Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), don’t want to choose between friends.

{mosads} Some just don’t make endorsements during the primaries.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) has served 15 years in both the House and the Senate, and has never made an endorsement during that time. Neither has Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.), who is serving his fifth term in the House. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who is in a tight reelection race, also said she will not make an endorsement during the primaries.

Deciding which candidate to endorse can be a difficult process. Lawmakers need to pick someone whom they feel has a good chance to win but who also espouses values similar to their own.

Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) is taking the wide approach, saying he will support “the conservative who will win.”

But who is a real conservative? The leading Republican candidates are fighting amongst themselves to answer that question, but Hensarling said he hasn’t figured it out.

“Assuming I can’t bring Ronald Reagan back from the dead … I’ll make an announcement as soon as I figure out who the best conservative is,” he said.

Hensarling even said he’d support former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) “with great enthusiasm.” Giuliani has been criticized by conservative groups for supporting abortion rights.

“If the choice is our candidate or Hillary, it’s an easy choice,” Hensarling said.

With candidates traveling extensively in Iowa, New Hampshire and Florida, the states without early primaries might be left feeling neglected. Lawmakers from those states would want the candidates to show the same commitment to their constituencies as they do to Iowa and New Hampshire voters.

A spokesman for Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) said in September the congressman wouldn’t make an endorsement until the candidates visited his district.

Asked about his backing in a recent interview, Cardoza said former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) are the only Democratic candidates who have visited his district “so far.” He said he will come out with an endorsement in the next few weeks or so.

Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas), who is expected to face a tough reelection race, suggested he was too busy focusing on his district to think about a presidential endorsement.

An endorsement requires a public commitment to a single candidate that some lawmakers may not want to make. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-Va.), a former Democrat who bolted the party in 2002, has no endorsement plans. He has donated money to three Republican candidates: Ron Paul (Texas), Duncan Hunter (Calif.) and Tom Tancredo (Colo.). No lawmakers have publicly endorsed Paul or Tancredo. Hunter has seven endorsements.

Lawmakers don’t take endorsements lightly. The candidates have to win them over, which is something that hasn’t happened yet for Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.).

Peterson said he’s been disappointed with the lack of energy in the debates — literally.

“I want a candidate who has an available, affordable energy security plan for America,” Peterson said. “I’m not just a one-issue guy, but nobody seems too concerned about it.”

Similarly, Rep. Howard Coble (R-N.C.) said he has yet to see anything from the candidates that would make him want to “jump in and support someone.”

“I’m keeping my options open,” Coble said. “I like both Rudy [Giuliani] and [ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt] Romney, and [former Arkansas Gov. Mike] Huckabee is coming on strong. I think Huckabee, Rudy or Romney would make a good president. They have good presidential temper.”

Of course, there’s always the possibility of a candidate making a late entrance and running away with the nomination.

So far it hasn’t happened, but there were some, like Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), who were hoping former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) would throw his hat into the ring.

Gingrich announced in September that he would not run, and Gilchrest said he has not made a decision yet. He said he had an idea who he will endorse, but like Peterson, he is looking for a candidate with very specific characteristics.

“[The candidate] should have a keen interest in global warming, understanding of the geopolitical balance of power in the Middle East, and keep the healthcare discussion nonpartisan,” Gilchrest said.

Former Vice President Al Gore has fueled increased speculation of a White House run after winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He hasn’t confirmed or denied anything, but if he does decide to run, he’ll find a backer in Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.)

“He’s the most qualified man for the job,” McDermott said. “He’s not going to run, though, so it’s a moot point.”

McDermott said he doesn’t have anyone else in mind, but is watching all the Democratic candidates.

“We could lose this election. I’m keeping my eye on it, seeing what happens.”