Democratic Party (United States) presidential candidates, 2012

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This article contains lists of candidates associated with the 2012 Democratic Party presidential primaries for the 2012 United States presidential election.

Candidates

The following individuals have formally announced that they are running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2012 and/or have filed as a candidate for such with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Incumbent

President Barack Obama (Website) (FEC filing)

Main article: Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012 See also: Political positions of Barack Obama President Barack Obama, born August 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, incumbent President of the United States. Obama is both eligible and seeking to serve a second term. His re-election bid was formally announced on April 4, 2011 on his website.[1][2] Several former members of the Obama administration and a number of Democratic National Committee staffers are officially working for the campaign.[3][4][5][6] The headquarters for Obama's reelection campaign is based in Chicago.[7] President of the United States: 2009–present U.S. Senator from Illinois: 2005–2008 Illinois State Senator: 1996–2004

Challengers

Darcy Richardson (Website)	Darcy Richardson, born 1955, progressive activist, author, historian, blogger, and Democratic Party strategist from Florida. He is a former Democratic Committee member and former chairman of the New Democrats.[8][9] Richardson was the first challenger to file to run against Obama in the 2012 New Hampshire primary and plans on expanding his operation to other states.[10]
Randall Terry (Website) (FEC filing)	Randall Terry, born 1959, pro-life activist and founder of Operation Rescue from New York. In January 2011, Terry announced his intention to challenge President Barack Obama in the Democratic Party primaries for the presidential election of 2012.[11][12][13] He said he planned to run an ad featuring graphic photos of aborted fetuses during Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012.[14][15][16]
Vermin Supreme	Vermin Supreme, performance artist and perennial candidate [17][18]

Withdrew before primary elections

Withdrew candidacy prior to the Iowa Caucuses
Warren Mosler (Website) (FEC filing)	Warren Mosler, born September 18, 1949, economist, founder and current president of Mosler Automotive from Connecticut. In February 2009, Mosler declared his candidacy with the FEC.[19] He ran as a "Tea Party Democrat",[20] before he withdrew his presidential candidacy in April 2010[21] to run for U.S. Senate.[20]

Prospective candidates

Previous

The following people have been the object of presidential speculation in past media reports, but have not recently signaled an interest in actually running.

• 

  Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska^[22][23]

• 

  Former U.S. Representative Alan Grayson of Florida^[24][25]

• 

  Writer, columnist and activist Jim Hightower of Texas^[26][27]

Declined to run

The following candidates have stated they do not plan to run in the 2012 presidential election.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton	Hillary Rodham Clinton, United States Secretary of State, from New York. Clinton has definitively ruled out running for president in 2012.[28] United States Secretary of State: 2009–present U.S. Senator: 2001–2009 First Lady of the United States: 1993–2001 First Lady of Arkansas: 1979–1981, 1983–1992
Former Governor Howard Dean	Howard Dean, former Governor of Vermont. A spokesman for Dean commented: "No way, no how, not happening" when asked if Dean would challenge President Obama in the primaries, adding, "he asked me to make it explicitly clear. He supports President Obama and will support him in 2012."[29] Chairman of the Democratic National Committee: 2005–2009 Governor of Vermont: 1991–2003 Lieutenant Governor of Vermont: 1987–1991
Former Senator Russ Feingold	Russ Feingold, former Senator of Wisconsin. Feingold's chief of staff replied to speculation that he would run by saying, "Senator Feingold is not running for president in 2012. Any suggestion he is thinking of running, planning to run, or interested in running is untrue. Senator Feingold is a strong supporter of President Barack Obama and wants to see him reelected in 2012."[30] U.S. Senator: 1993–2011 Wisconsin State Senator: 1983–1993
Former Senate nominee Alvin Greene	Alvin Greene, former U.S. Senate nominee of South Carolina. After losing his 2010 Senate race, he asked the South Carolina Democratic Party how much it would cost to run for president.[31] After being asking about a run on November 11, 2010, he said that he was "seriously considering" a campaign.[32] A year later, Greene notified The Daily Caller he would not run for president.[33] Candidate for the South Carolina House of Representatives, 2011 U.S. Senate nominee for the Democratic Party in South Carolina, 2010
Representative Dennis Kucinich	Dennis Kucinich, U.S. Representative of Ohio: Responding to speculation that he planned to challenge President Obama in the 2012 Democratic presidential primaries, Kucinich stated in August 2010 that he would not do so.[34] U.S. Representative from Ohio's 10th congressional district: 1997–present Mayor of Cleveland: 1977–1979
Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader	Ralph Nader, consumer advocate from Connecticut, headed a movement to find a progressive primary challenger for Barack Obama. Nader affirmed he would not be the challenger because he was not a party insider.[35] Independent candidate for president in 2004 and 2008 Presidential nominee for the Green Party in 1996 and 2000
Senator Bernie Sanders	Bernie Sanders, Senator of Vermont. After speculation that he would challenge Obama in the primaries from the left, Sanders said: "You will be the first to know: ain't gonna do it."[36] U.S. Senator: 2007–present U.S Representative: 1991–2007 Mayor of Burlington, Vermont: 1981–1989

See also

• Republican Party (United States) presidential candidates, 2012
• United States third party and independent presidential candidates, 2012
• United States presidential election, 2012 timeline

References

1. ^ (April 4, 2011) "Obama announces re-election bid", United Press International Retrieved April 4, 2011.
2. ^ Condon, Stephanie (April 4, 2011) "Obama launches 2012 campaign with web video", CBS News. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
3. ^ Allen, Mike (February 24, 2010) "Exclusive: White House privately plots 2012 campaign run", Politico. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
4. ^ Diemer, Tom (February 24, 2010) "Obama Re-Election Effort Already Taking Shape", Politics Daily. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
5. ^ The Plum Line – Tim Kaine email announcing staff changes. Voices.washingtonpost.com (January 20, 2011). Retrieved on March 6, 2011.
6. ^ Sweet, Lynn. (January 20, 2011) Obama 2012 campaign headquarters in Chicago: Smoot to step down as social secretary for large re-elect job – Lynn Sweet. Blogs.suntimes.com. Retrieved on March 6, 2011.
7. ^ Chicago to serve as HQ for Obama's 2012 bid. Chicago Breaking News (2011-01-20). Retrieved on March 6, 2011.
8. ^ Herman, Steven L. (December 4, 1989). "The "New Democrats" are Liberals and Proud of It". Associated Press. 
9. ^ Stack, Barbara White (December 13, 1989). "Small uprising developing among national Democrats". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tdNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZW4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6685,4032628&dq=darcy-richardson+new+democrats&hl=en. Retrieved November 04, 2011. 
10. ^ Memoli, Michael A. (October 28, 2011). "Even Democratic ballot will be crowded in New Hampshire primary". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-new-hampshire-candidates-20111028,0,7479283.story. Retrieved November 04, 2011. 
11. ^ Dwyer, Devin (January 18, 2011) "Activist Vows Graphic Anti-Abortion Ads During Super Bowl", ABC News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
12. ^ Boyle, Matthew (January 18, 2011) "Pro-life activist to primary Obama so he can air graphic pro-life ads during Super Bowl", The Daily Caller. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
13. ^ "Pro-Life Activist Randall Terry Looks to Defeat Barack Obama in 2012 Dem Primaries". Sunshine State News. http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/pro-life-activist-randall-terry-looks-defeat-barack-obama-2012-dem-primaries. . Retrieved March 6, 2011.
14. ^ "Activist Vows Graphic Anti-Abortion Ads During Super Bowl". http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/anti-abortion-activist-randall-terry-eyes-presidency-graphic/story?id=12639702. 
15. ^ Dwyer, Devin (January 18, 2011) "Activist Vows Graphic Anti-Abortion Ads During Super Bowl", ABC News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
16. ^ Boyle, Matthew (January 18, 2011) "Pro-life activist to primary Obama so he can air graphic pro-life ads during Super Bowl", The Daily Caller. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
17. ^ "The long, long New Hampshire ballot". http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/67115.html. 
18. ^ "Filing period to get on NH primary ballot ends". http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/10/28/filing_period_to_get_on_nh_primary_ballot_ends/. 
19. ^ "Warren Mosler". Federal Elections Commission. http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?C00459248. Retrieved 28 May 2011. 
20. ^ ^{a b} Altimari, Daniela (February 25, 2010). "Another hat in the ring? Financial analyst Warren Mosler considers U.S. Senate run". Courant. http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2010/02/another-hat-in-the-ring-financ.html. Retrieved 28 May 2011. 
21. ^ "Warren Bruce Mosler Termination Report". Federal Election Commission. http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?_10930465940+0. Retrieved 28 May 2011. 
22. ^ Derby, Kevin (February 23, 2011) "Presidential Derby", Sunshine State News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
23. ^ (December 9, 2010) "Gravel considering Obama primary challenge, calls for new 9/11 investigation", The Daily Caller. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
24. ^ (December 29, 2010)"Department of Silliness: Alan Grayson for president?", The Jewish Week. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
25. ^ (December 29, 2010) "An Anti-War Challenge to Obama in 2012: The Case for Alan Grayson", Politics Daily. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
26. ^ "Ralph Nader: Pressure Obama with primary"
27. ^ "Presidential Derby", April 30, 2011. Sunshine State News
28. ^ Condon, Stephanie (November 5, 2010) "Hillary Clinton Rules Out 2012, 2016 Presidential Runs", CBS News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
29. ^ Wallsten, Peter (November 4, 2010) "Howard Dean Rules Out 2012 Bid", Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
30. ^ O'Brien, Michael (March 12, 2010) "Feingold 'is not running for president in 2012'", The Hill. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
31. ^ Hunt, Kasie (November 10, 2010). "Alvin Greene mulls presidential bid". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44895.html. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
32. ^ Hutchins, Corey (November 10, 2010). "Alvin Greene "Seriously Considering" Presidential Run in 2012". Columbia Free Times. http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992209084141467&act=post&pid=11861011104084234. Retrieved 10 November 2010. 
33. ^ Nelson, Steven (November 11, 2011). "Former Senate candidate Alvin Greene no longer running for president". The Daily Caller. http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/11/former-senate-candidate-alvin-greene-no-longer-running-for-president/. Retrieved 12 November 2011. 
34. ^ Stephanopoulos, George (August 10, 2010) "Rep. Kucinich Won't Challenge Obama in Primary", ABC News. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
35. ^ Epstein, Jennifer (April 27, 2011). "Ralph Nader: Pressure Obama with primary". Politico. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53825.html. Retrieved 31 October 2011. 
36. ^ Nichols, John (December 29, 2010) "That 'Sanders for President' Talk is Real Enough, But Bernie's Not Going There", The Nation. Retrieved March 6, 2011.

External links

• 2012 Presidential Form 2 Filers at the Federal Election Commission (FEC)