Ground Game

In less than an hour, the Republican field could become a little bit smaller. Duncan Hunter’s campaign issued a press release this morning announcing that at 2pm, the California congressmen will make a statement, “regarding the future of his Presidential bid.”

Michelle Malkin chimes in:

Rep. Hunter has been a stalwart advocate for strict immigration enforcement, border security, and a strong national defense. If he withdraws, which seems likely, his presence will be greatly missed by grass-roots conservatives. I’ve never been able to answer questions from readers about why his campaign never caught fire given his excellent credentials and expertise (compared to, say, Mike Huckabee’s). Politics is weird and inexplicable like that.

What’s more “weird and inexplicable,” is the apparent refusal of Republicans in general, and conservative bloggers in particular, to recognize what the remaining field of candidates and respective frontrunners says about what primary voters are looking for.

The top five contenders for the nomination (McCain, Romney, Huckabee and Giuliani and Fred Thompson) are all unorthodox in their own ways. The toughest anti-immigration candidates are out of the race and/or out of contention, two of the three top contenders oppose torture, and four of the five have less-than-perfect track records on the life issue.

As many seasoned reporters are noting, this year’s voting class is looking for character, not litmus tests. Duncan Hunter is a great litmus test candidate. He’s just not a very inspiring political leader for most, or even many, Americans.

UPDATE: Way to go all Chuck Hagel on us. Duncan Hunter apparently just likes to waste our time. His "big" announcement was a non-announcement that he is, in fact, staying in the race.