Joel Anderson Endorses Duncan D. Hunter

UnionTribune (2008-03-05) MicheleClock

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Assemblyman Joel Anderson Wednesday morning threw his support behind the 52nd Congressional District campaign of Duncan D. Hunter.

At a press conference at a La Mesa restaurant, Anderson, R-El Cajon, said he is endorsing Hunter, the son of longtime-U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter. The elder Hunter opted to step down after serving out his term this year and run for the Republican presidential nomination, a campaign which never really got off the ground.

Anderson called the Marine captain a "true conservative" who understands "better than any other candidate the threat posed by the spread of radical, violent Islam."

Anderson, a freshman legislator, gained national attention last year for authoring a bill requiring California's two huge pension funds to divest from companies that have energy or defense-related business in Iran.

Hunter said he wanted to make the issue a federal one, "not just a California state issue."

Anderson's staff had fueled speculation Tuesday that he may be jumping into the race when they posted a cryptic, one page news release Tuesday afternoon saying Anderson planned to make a "major announcement" regarding the congressional race. The statement also said he would be joined by a "special guest."

Anderson will serve as Hunter's campaign chairman.

Other Republican candidates in the field include Santee Councilman BrianJones and San Diego County Board of Education member RobertWatkins.