Duncan Hunter

Editor's Note: Duncan Hunter dropped out of the presidential race after the Nevada caucus on Jan. 19.

Political Party: Republican
Current Position: Congressional Representative (since 1981)
State: California
Political Experience: Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, 109th Congress

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from Duncan Hunter's official campaign web site.

Duncan Hunter describes himself as a "true conservative," which is apparent in his views across the board on several major issues. In the polls, Hunter is not a top-runner; his support usually ranges from zero to three percent of Republican voters, according to data from Rasmussen Reports.

In regards to social issues, Hunter is pro-life and against same-sex marriage and civil unions. His voting history includes support of a 1999 bill to prohibit gay adoptions in Washington, D.C and favoring the 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. He also voted in favor of prohibiting same-sex marriages in July 2006. In May 2005, he voted against Stem-Cell Research Enhancement Act, but currently supports adult stem cell research, according to his campaign web site.

In addition to his conservative stance on social issues, Hunter also believes in a pro-business economy with limited government control. He was given an 83 percent approval rating by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. While he supports free trade with Australia, he opposed CAFTA when it was signed and currently opposes free trade with China and several other countries. On his web site, Hunter said, "American workers are the most productive and innovative labor force in the world. Unfortunately, they are asked to compete in an unfair environment…Ominously, China is cheating on trade and using billions of American trade dollars."

Along with some anti-free-trade sentiments, Hunter favors strict domestic policies. He supported the Patriot Act and electronic surveillance without warrant. In addition, he wishes to build a fence at the U.S.-Mexico border. After a successful decrease in illegal immigration across the 13-mile fenced border in San Diego installed in 1996, Hunter believes the same success story can be applied throughout the border if the fence is extended. According to his web site, not only had the illegal immigration incidents dropped from 202,000 in 1992 to 9,000 in 2004, but crime in the San Diego area also dropped 56.3 percent in the years between 1989 and 2000.

His "true conservative" views have won him 100 percent approval ratings from the Christian Coalition of America and the National Right to Life Committee, but also a seven percent rating from the American Civil Liberties Union.