This year, the Republican primary is pretty much settled in New Hampshire.
President Bush is virtually assured victory, on his way toward nomination for a second term.
Despite long odds, however, 11 other candidates have paid the 1,000 dollar entry fee to enter the GOP primary.
New Hampshire Public Radio's David Darman has more.
Candidates running in the GOP primary against President Bush know they don?t have a chance.
But for some, the reasons to run are hard boiled.
Candidate Millie Howard of New Richmond, Ohio says she is running because Bush is untrue to conservative principles.
She says his most glaring lapse is that he has done nothing to stop abortion.
16 well, george bush will say he?s pro life, but he?s not out there touting a constitutional amendment that says life begins at conception, which I do?16 10
Howard and others also say Bush and the Republican controlled Congress are not practicing the fiscal restraint that has long been the hallmark of the GOP.
Blake Ashby of St Louis, Missouri blames the president for policies that have resulted in one of the largest federal deficits in history.
29 57 this president likes to talk about his tax cuts, but my republican party knows the difference between a tax cut and a tax deferment. The 400 million we didn?t pay for last year, we still have to pay for. My republican party knows the only way to cut taxes is to cut spending, and ?this president is spending like lyndon Johnson.
While some candidates are running on principle, others are offering solutions to the nation?s problems.
Dick Harnes (Har-NESS) of New York City says he has a surefire idea to create thousands of jobs.
He would give a one hundred percent tax deduction to anyone who buys a new American made car.
Harness says that would boost car sales, and revive the ailing U.S. auto industry.
04 226 this would stir the economy like you can?t imagine. If we go back 20 or 30 years?let?s go back 30 years, you can?t imagine how many cars were built in this country, and how many jobs were a result of that. And it could come back. 04 244
George Gostigian?s idea to revive the economy also borrows from the past.
He would revive the massive public works of Franklin Roosevelt?s New Deal.
Gostigian says the nation could pay for the program by bringing the troops home from Iraq.
07 106 lots of the people, especially the young people, they?re unemployed. I want to use the money that they are using to fight this war, I want to use it for public works. I want to build road, build bridges, build tunnels and give these people work?
Several of the candidates running against President Bush are against the U.S. War in Iraq.
Perhaps no one has made their position clearer on the issue than Red Jahncke.
But while he opposes the War, Jahncke isn?t running against the President, just his policies.
He?s one of two people on the ballot running for vice president.
Jahnke says Bush erred in taking unilateral action against Iraq.
He says more international involvement is needed.
We need to go the united nations, turn this mission over to the united nations which means turn it over to the world community to determine iraq?s future and oversee iraq?s future in conjunction with iraqi?s themselves.
If Jahnke?s position sounds like he belongs in the Democratic primary, he readily admits it does.
But he says by running for vice president, Republicans can vote for Bush, and still make clear their opposition to the war.
What?s more, says Jahnke, Democrats can write him in for vice president and make their anti war point, too.
In the end, all the candidates who run in the GOP primary can at best ?send a message?.
President George W. Bush is on the ballot, and he?s sure to win.
