The 2008 Presidential Candidates--And Their Pets

What does a person’s pets say about them? If you can figure anything out about someone by the pets they keep, you may want to take a look at the pets of all the presidential candidates. It may help you decide on your way to the ballot box!

For the Democrats, Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich is the clear front-runner—at least in pet numbers. Kucinich has three pound-rescued dogs: Harry the beagle-basset, Lucie the beagle and George the cocker spaniel. Other Democrat dogs include New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s lab Seamus, and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards’ Golden Retriever and chocolate Labrador. Democrat cats belong to Delaware Senator Joe Biden, who has one cat, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with two, Jake and Squeaky. Two candidates are currently without pets. Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd’s family has allergies that prevent pets at home, although he would like to have a dog. Illinois Senator Barack Obama has no pets yet, though he and his wife have promised their daughters a dog after the election process is through.

Looking for a little pet variety in your candidate? Arizona Senator John McCain has the usual dogs (Sam the Springer Spaniel and a mutt named Coco) and cat (Oreo, who’s black and white). But McCain also has two turtles, Cuff and Link, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 saltwater fish. Fortunately, if this menagerie is elected, the White House is pretty spacious. Republican dogs include California Representative Duncan Hunter’s black labs, Boo and Hunter, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s 9-year-old black Lab, Jet, and 1 1/2 year old Shih Tzu, Sonic. As with the Democrats, two Republican candidates are without pets. Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has no pets, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s family recently lost their Weimaraner, Marley.

How does this candidate zoo stack up against the current pet administration? George W. Bush and family have had four pets in the White House: two Scottish Terriers, Barney and Miss Beazley, a black cat named India, and and Spot the Springer Spaniel. Spot was born in the White House in 1989 to George H. W. Bush’s dog Millie, author of Millie’s Book. Spot is the only second-generation White House dog in history. The Bush family also claims Ofelia, a Longhorn, although she resides on their ranch in Crawford, Texas.