March 02, 2007	Friday	Safar 12, 1428

WASHINGTON, March 1: Senator John McCain late on Wednesday joined a growing field of Republicans and Democrats vying for their party's nomination for the November 2008 US presidential election.

Following is a list of politicians who have either officially declared their intentions, formed exploratory committees which allow them to raise money or are expected to declare their White House bid.



— Arizona Senator John McCain, 70, a Vietnam War hero who lost the 2000 presidential nomination to Bush. He has a reputation for independence and favours a US troop buildup in Iraq.

— Rudolph Giuliani, 62, a former New York City mayor who enjoys strong popularity in opinion polls largely for guiding New York's response to the Sept 11, 2001 terror attacks.

— Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, 59, credited with rescuing the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, from scandal and mismanagement. The Boston businessman is a devout Mormon, a potential problem for the Republican Party's evangelical Christian base.

— Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, 50, is a devout Roman Catholic who enjoys strong support from religious conservatives.

— Duncan Hunter, 58, is a former chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. He has taken a hard line against illegal immigration.

— Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo, 61, also known for his tough anti-immigration stance.

— Mike Huckabee, 51, was governor of Arkansas for 10 years until stepping down in January. He is best known nationally for his personal quest to lose weight.

— Tommy Thompson, 66, a former Wisconsin governor and former Bush cabinet secretary.

— James Gilmore, 57, a former Virginia governor served as a counter-intelligence officer in the US Army. He was appointed by the US Congress to head a commission on terrorism response formed after September 11, 2001.

Republicans reportedly considering a presidential bid include:

— Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, 60, a Vietnam war veteran and harsh critic of the US handling of the war in Iraq.

— Newt Gingrich, 63, a former speaker of the House of Representatives and a free-market ideologue.

DEMOCRATS

— Hillary Clinton, 59. The New York senator's team includes experienced advisers and perhaps most importantly her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

— Barack Obama, 45. The charismatic and telegenic senator from Illinois is considered the first African-American to have a serious chance of winning the presidency.

— John Edwards, 53, is a former senator and was John Kerry's vice presidential running mate in the 2004 election. Edwards is a trial lawyer who has carefully nurtured support in key primary states such as Iowa and South Carolina.

— Delaware Senator Joseph Biden, 64, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. An attorney and law professor, he was first elected to the Senate in 1972 at the age of 29.

— Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, 62. A well-connected senior Democrat, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and to the Senate in 1980.

— New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, 59. A former energy secretary and United Nations ambassador during the Clinton administration, he would become the first Hispanic US president if elected.

— Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich, 60, is a pacifist that embodies the party's left wing. He was a Democratic contender in 2004.

Democrats reportedly considering a bid include:

— Al Gore, 58, Clinton's vice president. Gore's recent Oscar win for his global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” has many party faithful considering his candidacy. Gore, who has feebly denied presidential aspirations, narrowly lost the 2000 election to Bush.

— Wesley Clark, 62, a former supreme allied commander of NATO in Europe, could launch another campaign after his failed attempt in 2004.

INDEPENDENT

— Ralph Nader, 72. The consumer activist and populist ran in 1996 and 2000 for the tiny Green Party, and in 2004 as an independent. Angry Democrats still blame him for siphoning votes from Gore in the key state of Florida in the 2000 election, thus throwing the state -- and the election -- to Bush.-—AFP