The endorsements that would make huge waves

Throughout 2007, presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle have touted the lawmakers, celebrities and sports stars who are backing their campaigns.

However, there are plenty more big fish out there.

Endorsements do not sway many voters, but they do lead to free media time for White House hopefuls scrambling for attention.

Whether it’s the Speaker of the House, Tiger Woods or a lawmaker from a key primary state, the campaigns want to boast that they have caught lightning in a bottle.

The Hill reviewed the big names who have stayed on the sidelines, at least for now. Most of the people below will remain mum until the general election; others may stay silent throughout the entire 2008 presidential cycle. But a few are certain to make big waves down the stretch and attract boldface headlines.

{mosads}AFL-CIO. While several of the group’s unions have endorsed candidates, it looks unlikely that any one of the Democrats can pick up the two-thirds of the membership necessary to win the national endorsement. The organization will most likely sit out the primaries, then throw its money and support behind the nominee.

Lance Armstrong. The host of a cancer forum attended by six presidential candidates earlier this year, Armstrong has yet to endorse any of them. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) were there, as was former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who has also joined Armstrong on a ride across Iowa. But the seven-time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor might want to stay out of the mud to keep his work on cancer nonpartisan.

Gary Bauer. Bauer, head of The Campaign for Working Families, likely won’t follow Pat Robertson in endorsing Rudy Giuliani, as he has expressed reservations about Giuliani’s social issue positions. He has sent an e-mail on behalf of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) asking people to consider supporting Thompson, but it was not a formal endorsement.

The blogs. There are countless blogs, and both Democrats and Republicans are courting them one at a time.

Mike Bloomberg. If he doesn’t run himself as a third-party candidate, a Bloomberg endorsement would be above-the-fold news.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). The former top Republican in the House, ex-Rep. Dennis Hastert (Ill.), is backing Mitt Romney. Kevin Madden, Boehner’s former flack, left the Hill to join Romney’s team, but Boehner has not showed his hand.

Tom Brady. The New England Patriots quarterback might be more of a celebrity in the Northeast right now than Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling. He’s shown an interest in politics, including saying that his craziest ambition is to become a U.S. senator, and he appears to lean Republican. He was one of President Bush’s guests at the 2004 State of the Union address.

Jeb Bush. He will likely run for president some day, but he knew this was not the best time.

President Bush: The president has said repeatedly that he does not want to get involved in the presidential race until the candidates have been nominated. However, behind the scenes he can become a powerful ally or opponent to any of the Republicans running. After all, despite slumping poll numbers, Bush is still the head of the GOP, and he put together the most impressive fundraising machine of any Republican in history.

Former President George H.W. Bush. Bush is the only former president who could still move the race by legitimizing one of the GOP’s candidates as heir to the Bush dynasty.

Laura Bush. She is a lot more popular than her husband and will be a tough act to follow for the next first lady, or first gentleman.

Jimmy Carter: As a former White House occupant and a respected human rights and elections advocate, Carter’s endorsement still carries some weight. Walter Mondale, Carter’s vice president, has backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Vice President Cheney. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) called him Darth Vader, but to many on the right, the vice president — despite dismal poll numbers — is still a political hero.

Club for Growth. Former Rep. Pat Toomey’s (R-Pa.) anti-tax group is always very clear when it comes to which candidates it doesn’t like, as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee can attest. The Club has yet to endorse any of the GOP candidates, but it has offered tepid support for several. An endorsement from the Club would give instant Wall Street credit to a candidate who, like the rest of the field, is vying for the mantle of Real Fiscal Conservative.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R). Crist has a nice tan, an important state and approval numbers that are through the roof. With Florida’s newfound importance in the GOP primaries, the heir to Jeb Bush’s throne could significantly help any one of the GOP candidates. Crist is said to be a wily politician who might look good on the ticket next fall, so he is likely to place his bet on the person who looks like the winner.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.). He backed then-Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) in 2004. Clyburn’s support would be crucial in the important state of South Carolina.

Chet Culver. The first-term Iowa governor could help any of the Democratic candidates to pick up crucial votes in the state as the White House hopefuls are on the home stretch toward the first caucus in the nation.

The Des Moines Register. This one is widely anticipated, but editors for the influential paper aren’t offering any clues.

Lou Dobbs. The television personality, who is held in high esteem by proponents of stringent border security measures, is reportedly flirting with the idea of launching his own White House bid.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.). Please end the suspense, Rahm, and tell us: Barack or Hillary?

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.). Wisely opted not to launch a 2008 run, though he has a major following in the blogosphere.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). As Gingrich tells it, all that stood between him and his own presidential run was a law that prevented him from exploring a White House bid while also staying at the helm of his group American Solutions for Winning the Future. Prior to opting out, the former Speaker polled in the middle single digits as an undeclared candidate.

Former Vice President Al Gore. Al Gore might be tempted to add “kingmaker” to his résumé, which now includes a Nobel Peace Prize and an Academy Award. Gore’s endorsement might be the most important on the Democratic side. Polls show that the 2000 Democratic presidential candidate would have been instantly competitive had he decided to enter the race. His rocky relationship with the Clintons adds an element of spice to any potential endorsement he would make. However, Gore’s endorsement didn’t catapult Howard Dean to the 2004 Democratic nomination.

Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.). Some Republicans who want the U.S. out of Iraq are anxiously awaiting Hagel’s choice.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The senator’s wife backs Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), but Harkin himself has not formally endorsed. Political insiders will forever remember Harkin being in the background during Howard Dean’s infamous scream in Iowa.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). He has indicated he will wait until after the Iowa caucuses before picking his horse. Don’t bet on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who voted against Grassley’s 2001 and 2003 tax bills as well as his Medicare drug measure.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. Though Greenspan is unlikely to back a candidate, his endorsement would go a long way toward giving any White House hopeful instant credibility on economic issues.
Don Imus. Yes, he’s still radioactive. And yes, politicians still love him.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). The Capitol Hill legend is close friends with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.). With his extensive background in healthcare legislation, Democratic candidates would talk about Kennedy’s support for weeks.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Kerry has suggested he will pick a candidate soon, and White House hopefuls would love to get access to the senator’s e-mail list of 3 million supporters.

Reps. Tom Latham and Steve King. Both of these Republican Iowa lawmakers could provide a boost for one of the GOP candidates in the all-important first-in-the-nation caucus state. King is an old ally (and look-alike) of Rep. Tom Tancredo’s (R-Colo.).

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). He won’t reveal his hand until the general and speculation runs rampant about which party’s candidate he’ll embrace.

John Lynch. The New Hampshire governor is very popular in the Granite State and his endorsement would greatly help any Democrat on the path to winning the nation’s first primary. Lynch’s wife has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and serves on her campaign as a national co-chairwoman.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.). Since hanging up his second job as honorary chairman of the Republican National Committee, Martinez has been able to enjoy just being a senator again. That said, Martinez has a lot of clout in the crucial state of Florida, and any Republican would love to have his support.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). McConnell has his own reelection to worry about, and whatever the presidential match-up is, it will likely help him cruise to a fifth term.

Former Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.). The keynote speaker of the 2004 Republican National Committee Convention attracted widespread attention with his scowling criticism of Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). Most believe that Miller will definitely embrace a Republican in 2008, but he was close to Bill Clinton in 1992, when he was a keynote speaker at that year’s Democratic convention.

MoveOn.org. This is one of those endorsements that could help in the primary and hurt in the general. While MoveOn has considerable resources and an extensive mailing list, it is also considered Public Enemy No. 1 for conservatives and conservative talk shows.

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.). Murtha is now a household name in politically active homes and championed by the anti-war left.

Ralph Nader. Democrats, beware. He’s not ruling out another run.

National Rifle Association. NRA officials have hinted there may be a need for the powerful conservative group to get involved in the GOP primary. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s performance there, cell phone call included, didn’t help his cause much. Former Sen. Fred Thompson (Tenn.) or former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee could benefit from the NRA’s membership list and considerable influence with conservative voters.

Grover Norquist. The head of Americans for Tax Reform was outspoken on behalf of George W. Bush in the 2000 primary and is a leading GOP voice on taxes. Norquist’s reputation took a hit after the Jack Abramoff scandal exploded, but getting his formal backing would be huge for Republicans looking to bolster their fiscal reputations.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Pelosi has not taken the bait on working with a female president. For now she smiles, noting that she is on the sidelines until there is a nominee.

Tony Perkins. The Family Research Council president doesn’t seem to like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), but beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Reid was key in setting up the Nevada contest and has promised to remain neutral.

Karl Rove. He didn’t leave at the top of his game, but the so-called “architect” knows how to win elections.

Condoleezza Rice. The secretary of state who resisted a run of her own has already been mentioned as a possible No. 2. A Rice vice presidential nomination could pose a problem for Democrats counting on easily winning the female and black vote.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R): The endorsement of South Carolina’s governor might be more important next year than in other election cycles. It could provide a big boost in the first truly red state to hold a GOP primary in 2008. The “First in the South” label could be hugely important, as the GOP field is trying to appeal to the social conservatives in the Republican base.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R): The Governator is a popular Republican in a blue state who has tried to transcend partisan politics and has taken on some policies, such as on the environment, that are far to the left of his party. His endorsement could prove to be powerful with independents, and Schwarzenegger’s star appeal should be able to help any candidate with raising funds.

Service Employees International Union. This one is not going to happen. The national union decided earlier this year not to endorse anyone, but it freed the state unions to endorse as they see fit. Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) is enjoying the most support from the states.

Bruce Springsteen. Many celebrities hit the campaign trail for a day or two, but The Boss went all out for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004.

Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.). With the Granite State’s other senator, Judd Gregg, choosing fellow New Englander Mitt Romney, and its two GOP House members losing reelection races in 2006, Sununu remains the only Republican in the state’s delegation who is up for grabs. With his own reelection in doubt against former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D), though, look for Sununu to go with someone who can help him win his own race.

Donald Trump. The brash tycoon hasn’t weighed in yet, though he loves the limelight, so it’s probably just a matter of time.

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). The outspoken anti-war liberal, who campaigned for Ned Lamont (D) over Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) last year, has not picked a favorite.

Tiger Woods. Any candidate looking for the support of a proven winner should want this man in their corner. Especially if that candidate likes to play golf. GQ magazine reported in March that former NBA superstar Charles Barkley told Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.)  that he would help the senator and the super-golfer get together. The Obama campaign said such a meeting hasn’t happened yet.

Compiled by Aaron Blake, Bob Cusack, Klaus Marre and Sam Youngman.