The first 2012 presidential primaries and caucuses may still be months away, but potential contenders are already criss-crossing the country in bids to boost their political profiles and raise money. OpenSecrets.org is tracking how notable presidential hopefuls — both confirmed and unconfirmed — are preparing for campaign battles ahead in what will likely be the most expensive presidential election in U.S. history.
Check here frequently, as OpenSecrets.org’s 2012 presidential section will be regularly updated to reflect the changing nature of the campaign at hand. http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/index.php

	• Obama, Barack (Democrat, Illinois) Status: Confirmed Obama, a Democrat born in 1961, is the 44th president of the United States, having won election in November 2008. Obama formally launched his re-election campaign on April 4 by releasing a video and sending an e-mail to supporters. To date, Obama faces no significant competition from within the Democratic Party, and it is expected that he will win his party’s presidential nomination in 2012 during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. Health care reform, financial regulartory reform, jobs and the economy have been hallmarks of Obama’s first term in office. Obama’s victory in the 2008 general election was aided by his tremendous fund-raising success. Since he first began running for president in early 2007, his campaign relied on bigger donors and smaller donors nearly equally, pulling in successive donations, mostly over the Internet. After becoming his party’s nominee, Obama declined public financing and the spending limits that came with it, making him the first major-party candidate since the system was created to reject taxpayers’ money for the general election. Prior to becoming president, Obama served as a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008, and an Illinois state senator, serving from 1997 to 2004. He also made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, losing in a Democratic primary to incumbent Bobby Rush.
	• Terry, Randall A (Democrat, District of Columbia) Status: Confirmed Terry, born in 1959, filed a statement of candidacy on Jan. 18, 2011, to run for president as a Democrat. The outspoken anti-abortion activist has previously made unsuccessful bids in New York state for the U.S. House (1998) and in Florida for the U.S. Senate (2006).
	• Bachmann, Michele (Republican, Minnesota) Status: Possible Bachmann, a Republican born in 1956, has represented Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District since 2007. CNN reported on March 24 that Bachmann will form a presidential exploratory committee by June. Bachmann is a vocal supporter of the conservative Tea Party movement and founder of the U.S. House Tea Party Caucus. Bachmann is a prolific fund-raiser, having raised more than $13.5 million during the 2010 election cycle — the most among all House candidates. She also operates a leadership PAC, Michele PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised more than $637,000 and spent more than $444,000. Before being elected to the U.S. House, Bachman served in the Minnesota State Senate from 2001 to 2007.
	• Barbour, Haley (Republican, Mississippi) Status: Possible Barbour, a Republican born in 1947, has served as governor of Mississippi since 2004. He is also chairman of the Republican Governors Association. Barbour’s preparations for a potential presidential run include operating federal and state-level political action committees that together have raised millions of dollars. His federal PAC alone, known as Haley’s PAC, raised $1.08 million during the 2010 election cycle, spending about $705,000. Between 1993 and 1997, Barbour served as chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 1991, Barbour helped found a lobbying firm today known as BGR Group. His involvement in politics also includes a failed bid in 1982 for the U.S. Senate and stints during the 1980s working in the Ronald Reagan White House and on the George H.W. Bush presidential campaign.
	• Bolton, John R (Republican, Maryland) Status: Possible Bolton, a Republican born in 1948, was the former United States representative to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. Bolton was appointed U.N. Ambassador in August 2005, but resigned in December 2006 after Democrats retook the Senate. Bolton has mentioned his interest for a presidential run during several interviews in late 2010, but has not established any official politically active organizations. He is currently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and provides commentary for Fox News and other media outlets.
	• Cain, Herman (Republican, Georgia) Status: Exploring Cain, a Republican born in 1945, is a radio talk show host, syndicated columnist and Fox Business News contributor who formed a presidential exploratory committee in January 2011. In 2004, Cain ran for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, losing in a Republican primary. He has previously worked as chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza and is a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
	• Daniels, Mitch (Republican, Indiana) Status: Possible Daniels, a Republican born in 1949, is the governor of Indiana, having served in this capacity since 2005. Daniels has repeatedly said he’s open to the running for president in 2012. Daniels previously served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget under George W. Bush (2001-2003) and in various other aide positions for federal politicians, including President Ronald Regan and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.). Daniels also worked as chief executive of the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, and as an executive at drug maker Eli Lilly and Company.
	• DeMint, James (Republican, South Carolina) Status: Not Running DeMint, a Republican born in 1951, has served since 2005 as a U.S. senator from South Carolina. From 1999 to 2005, represented South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House. On March 24, DeMint officially ruled out running for president. DeMint’s preparations for a potential presidential run had included operating an active leadership PAC that has raised millions of dollars, much of which has been spent benefiting Republican candidates. DeMint has been on the Tea Party movement’s leading edge, frequently touting its principles of limited government and fiscal restraint. During his career, retirees, health professionals and identifiably Republican or conservative organizations have been his top three campaign backers among industries or special interest groups. DeMint easily won re-election in 2010, facing only token Democratic opposition.
	• Gingrich, Newt (Republican, Georgia) Status: Exploring Gingrich, a Republican born in 1943, is a former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, serving in that capacity from 1995 to 1999. Gingrich represented Georgia’s 6th Congressional District in the House from 1979 to 1999. On March 3, Gingrich announced that he is “seriously” considering running for president and launched a new website to explore the possibility. The day before, Fox News had suspended Gingrich as a paid contributor, citing his probable presidential run. Since leaving elected office, Gingrich has worked as a news analyst, commentator and author. He also maintained his status as a political leader — albeit an unelected one — having in 2007 founded the 527 organization American Solutions for Winning the Future, which advocates conservative principles. It has raised $52 million since its inception through the end of 2010.
	• Huckabee, Mike (Republican, Arkansas) Status: Possible Huckabee, a Republican born in 1955, ran for president in 2008, but dropped out of the race in March of that year when it was all but certain that eventual nominee John McCain would win the GOP nomination. During his presidential campaign, Huckabee won five primaries or caucuses — including the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus — and raised and spent about $16 million overall. In the time after the 2008 presidential election, Huckabee has written a book, hosted a weekly television program on Fox News and provided news commentary for ABC Radio. He also operates a political action committee, known as Huck PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised about $1.8 million, spending $1.74 million. Previously, Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 and Arkansas lieutenant governor from 1993 to 1996. He also served as chairman of the National Governors Association from 2005 to 2006. He unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1992.
	• Huntsman, Jon (Republican, Utah) Status: Possible Huntsman, a Republican born in 1960, is a former Utah governor (2005-2009) and ambassador to China (2009-2011) under the Obama administration. He is also a former ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush. Huntsman, on Jan. 31, 2011, announced his intent to resign his ambassadorial post by April. He has not confirmed he’ll run for president, but Huntsman associates widely believe he’s considering a bid.
	• Johnson, Gary (Republican, New Mexico) Status: Possible Johnson, a Republican born in 1953, served as New Mexico’s governor from 1995 to 2003. Politico reported in late March that Johnson would skip creating an presidential exploratory committee and formally announce a presidential bid in April. In 2009, Johnson founded Our America Initiative, a conservative nonprofit organization. Under the auspicies of the Our America Initiative, Johnson has made numerous trips in 2010 and 2011 to key presidential battleground states, including New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. Before his service as New Mexico’s governor, Johnson worked as a construction company executive.
	• Karger, Fred (Republican, California) Status: Confirmed Fred Karger, a Republican born in 1950, is a longtime political consultant who’s worked on numerous GOP presidential campaigns and for private firms on a variety of issues, including on behalf of the tobacco industry and for gay marriage. Karger is an outspoken gay rights activist and the first openly gay man to seek a major party presidential nomination. Karger formally filed paperwork on March 23 to run for president. He initially formed a presidential exploratory committee in August 2010 and has since campaigned frequently in Iowa and New Hampshire. He has never before occupied public office.
	• Palin, Sarah (Republican, Alaska) Status: Possible Palin, a Republican born in 1964, was the GOP’s 2008 vice presidential nominee. She also served as governor of Alaska between 2006 and 2009. Upon resigning her state’s governorship in 2009, Palin has written two books, toured the nation speaking about politics and works as a news commentator for Fox News. She has also starred in her own reality television show on The Learning Channel. Palin maintains an active political action committee, SarahPAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised $5.7 million and spent $4.4 million. Her previous political experience includes serving as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, from 1996 to 2002, and as chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission from 2003 to 2004. She made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor in 2002.
	• Paul, Ron (Republican, Texas) Status: Possible Paul, a Republican born in 1935, ran for president in 2008 but failed to win the GOP nomination. Despite spirited support from backers who sent him $35 million, largely through Internet “money bombs,” Paul did not win a Republican primary or caucus contest. Paul continues to in the U.S. House of Representatives, easily winning re-election in 2010. As a member of Congress, he operates a leadership PAC, named Liberty PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised more than $186,000 and spent more than $286,000. Paul has served three stints in the House: 1976 to 1977, 1979 to 1985 and 1997 to the present. He ran for president in 1988 as a Libertarian Party candidate, placing third overall in the popular vote with more than 432,000 votes — about 0.5 percent of all ballots cast. He also made an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 1984.
	• Pawlenty, Tim (Republican, Minnesota) Status: Exploring Pawlenty, a Republican born in 1960, is the former governor of Minnesota, serving in that capacity from 2003 to January 2011. He also served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, with those final four years spent working as Republican majority leader. Pawlenty, in a March 21 video posted on Facebook, said he was “announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to run for president of the United States.” Although considered as a potential vice presidential candidate during 2008, GOP nominee John McCain selected then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Since then, Pawlenty has written a book and made regular visits to key presidential battleground states such as Iowa. Pawlenty also maintains an active federal political action committee, the Freedom First PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised $3.4 million and spent $3.2 million.
	• Pence, Mike (Republican, Indiana) Status: Not Running Pence, a Republican born in 1959, is a congressman representing Indiana’s 6th District, which he has since 2001. He also served as chaiman of the House Republican Conference between 2009 and January 2011, but resigned that position, prompting speculation he’d run for president. But also in January 2011, Pence said he would not run for president, although he did not rule out running for governor of Indiana.
	• Roemer, Buddy (Republican, Louisiana) Status: Exploring Roemer, a Republican born in 1943, announced on March 2 that he would form a presidential exploratory committee. He vowed later in March not to accept political action committee money or individual contributions of more than $100. He faces long odds, as he’s been out of elected office for nearly two decades, having served as Louisiana’s governor from 1988 to 1992, losing re-election in 1991. He also failed to win the governor’s office in a political comeback in 1995. Roemer also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1988 as a Democrat.
	• Romney, Mitt (Republican, Massachusetts) Status: Possible Romney, a Republican born in 1947, unsuccessfully ran for president in 2008. He is the former governor of Massachusetts, serving in that capacity from 2003 to 2007. Early as it may be, some political watchers consider Romney an early front-runner for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, having easily won a New Hampshire Republican Party straw poll in January 2011. Romney has maintained an active political action committee, the Free and Strong America PAC, which raised $9.1 million and spent $8.7 million during the 2010 election cycle. During his 2008 presidential bid, Romney was a prolific fund-raiser, collecting more than $107 million — second only to the ultimate GOP nominee, John McCain. But winning the money race wasn’t enough to win his party’s favor. Romney dropped out of the race after disappointing Super Tuesday results in February, when McCain solidified his position as the party’s frontrunner. In all, Romney won 11 primaries or caucuses during the 2008 presidential election. Romney raised $88.5 million in 2007 alone, but $35.4 million of that came from his own pocket: He amassed a fortune estimated to be worth as much as $250 million as a former chief executive of a management consulting firm and co-founder of a private equity investment. Romney spent more than any other candidate on advertising in the early primary states during 2008, but his message didn’t seem to resonate as well as his campaign had hoped. Romney’s political career also includes an unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid in 1994, during which he lost to Democratic incumbent Ted Kennedy.
	• Santorum, Rick (Republican, Pennsylvania) Status: Possible Santorum, a Republican born in 1958, is a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, having served in that capacity between 1995 and 2007. He lost his seat to now-Sen. Bob Casey in 2006. Since then, Santorum has written a newspaper column, worked as an attorney and Fox News contributor and made frequent public appearances. He has publicly acknowledged he’s considering a presidential run, and on March 2, Fox News suspended Santorum as a paid contributor, citing his presidential ambitions. Santorum also maintains an active political action committee, America’s Foundation, which during the 2010 election cycle raised and spent $2.8 million. Santorum also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 1995.
	• Thune, John (Republican, South Dakota) Status: Not Running Thune, a Republican born in 1961, is a U.S. senator from South Dakota, serving in that capacity since 2005. On Feb. 22, 2011, Thune announced he would not seek the presidency, saying in a statement that “at this time, I feel that I am best positioned to fight for America’s future here in the trenches of the United States Senate.” Previously, Thune served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003 and made a unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Thune operates a leadership PAC, the Heartland Values PAC, which during the 2010 election cycle raised more than $877,000 while spending more than $863,000.
	• Trump, Donald (Republican, New York) Status: Possible Trump, a Republican born in 1946, is a billionaire real estate developer, businessman and television personality. If Trump runs for president, he told ABC News on March 17 that he’s willing to spend $600 million of his own money to win. On April 5, Fox News reported that Trump is poised to run. While having never formally sought public office, Trump has previously flirted with bids for the presidency (in 2000 as a Reform Party candidate) U.S. Senate and the New York governor’s office. A fiery speech Trump delivered in February 2011 at the Conservative Political Action Conference stoked rumors that he’d make a serious bid for the Republican preisdential nomination. Trump has, however, been a frequent donor to Democratic federal political candidates and committees, spending tens of thousands of dollars over the years supporting them.

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