Down the stretch the candidates come
Over the past year, the 2008 race has provided a lot of material for policy wonks, political junkies and late-night talk shows.
{mosads}The Iowa caucus is still a couple of months away, but there are already three GOP candidates who have bowed out of the wide-open race: former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and, more recently, Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.).
Democrats have been more resilient, even though Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) is the clear front-runner. Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who was the first Democrat to enter the race formally, dropped out in February.
Here is a look back at the highlights of the last year:
2006
October
Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) says he won’t run
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) indicates he may run
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) suggests he is considering a bid
November
Democrats win control of Congress
Former Iowa Gov. Vilsack (D) suggests he is running
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hints at a run
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) bows out
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) forms exploratory committee
Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) is not running
Vilsack formally enters, becoming first Democrat to take the plunge
December
Adviser says Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is mulling a run
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) indicates he’s in
Former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) will not launch a bid, then backs Obama
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) is in
Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) says he is considering a bid
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) is out, later backs Clinton
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) plans to announce his intentions in the fall
Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) is in
2007
January
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) files exploratory committee papers
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announces on Don Imus’s show that he is running
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) files papers to form an exploratory committee
Obama forms exploratory committee
Sen. Clinton says, “I’m in to win.”
Brownback announces bid
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) is in
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is out
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) says he’s running
Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) announces bid amid gaffe of calling Obama “clean”
February
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani enters race
Obama announces he’s in
Romney is officially in
Vilsack drops out, subsequently endorses Clinton
Former Vice President Al Gore wins an Oscar for global warming film
March
McCain is running
Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) indicates he may run
Elizabeth Edwards’s cancer returns; her husband’s campaign continues
April
First-quarter fundraising figures show that big winners include Clinton, Obama and Romney. McCain’s campaign, amid disappointing numbers, vows to revamp its operations.
Tommy Thompson and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) enter race
Edwards widely mocked for his $400 campaign-funded haircuts
Democrats hold first debate as most candidates lay off each other and bash President Bush
May
First GOP debate shows candidates are split on social issues
Citing unidentified threats, Secret Service guards Obama
Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) reiterates possibility of an independent bid. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg remains mum
During second GOP debate, Giuliani attracts applause for criticizing Paul’s rationale for the Sept. 11 attacks
In leaked memo, Clinton aide suggests she skip the Iowa caucus. Clinton distances herself from memo
June
Fred Thompson, all but a certainty to jump in, appears on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno
Clinton financial disclosures trigger criticism from Obama camp. Obama called out for not abiding by his pledge to embrace new brand of political campaigning
Bloomberg leaves GOP, intensifying speculation he will launch bid as an independent
July
Obama rakes in more than Clinton during second quarter
McCain’s fundraising figures are abysmal; some of his top aides leave campaign
Gilmore drops out
Clinton and Edwards overheard in conversation saying they want to limit the number of candidates in debates
Obama calls Clinton “Bush-Cheney lite”
August
Iowa poll shows Clinton and Obama in dead heat as Clinton continues to lead nationally
Obama, Clinton spar over whether they would meet with foreign dictators
South Carolina seeks to move up primary, triggering concern that other states will move up their contests
Romney wins Iowa straw poll
Tommy Thompson bows out, subsequently endorses Giuliani
Bloomberg says, “Nobody’s going to elect me president.”
Democratic National Committee vows to punish Florida for moving primary up
Clinton gives controversial donations from Norman Hsu to charity
September
Thompson skips New Hampshire debate, and announces candidacy on “The Tonight Show”
Clinton gives more Hsu money away
Hagel says he will not run for president
Thompson’s roll-out panned by conservative columnists George Will and Bob Novak on the same day
Bush says he expects Clinton to win Democratic nomination
Clinton appears on all five Sunday talk shows
Gingrich opts against run
Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, suggests her husband needs to triumph in Iowa to win nomination
Clinton holds tenuous lead in Iowa polls, winning New Hampshire handily as Romney leads the GOP field in both states and Giuliani leads in national polls
October
Conservatives vow third-party challenge if Giuliani wins nomination
Clinton out-raises Obama in third quarter as Giuliani is victor on GOP side
Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize, appears unlikely to launch White House bid
Brownback bows out
Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.) steps aside as Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman
RNC threatens states not to move up their primary dates
Kristi Roberts contributed to this article.