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Rep. Duncan Hunter Mulls White House Run

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Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., plans to announce Monday that he's considering a presidential run in 2008, according to a Republican official.

Hunter is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee - a position he would lose if Democrats take control of the House after the Nov. 7 election.

Hunter spokesman Joe Kasper would not comment on Hunter's plans, other than to say that he would be holding a press conference on the waterfront in San Diego at 2 p.m. EST Monday regarding electoral plans for 2008.

Hunter told Fox News Channel Sunday, "I'm going to make an announcement about a national campaign in '08." He didn't elaborate, other than to say it would be made from the waterfront "where I started my humble career in 1980."

A Republican official said Hunter planned to announce that he was forming an exploratory committee, which would allow him to begin raising money and organizing supporters in early Republican primary states such as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The official didn't want to speak on the record ahead of Hunter's announcement.

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Hunter's announcement came as a surprise to leadership in the Republican Party in Washington. He had not been discussed as one of the many candidates considering a presidential bid, among them Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

Hunter, a 13-term incumbent who represents the San Diego suburbs, is a strong conservative who's focused on supporting the military, particularly the country's troops, and on stopping illegal immigration. He's a stubborn advocate for those causes, pushing for completion of the western portion of a U.S.-Mexico border fence over objections from Democrats and environmentalists.

He also held up legislation to overhaul the nation's intelligence agencies over concerns that a new national intelligence director would undercut combat commanders, finally accepting a compromise when those concerns were satisfied.

Hunter is a Vietnam veteran and his son is a Marine artillery officer who's served in Iraq.

© 2006 Associated Press.

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