Editing Sam Brownback (section)

==2008 presidential campaign==
{{Main|Sam Brownback 2008 presidential campaign}}
{{Further|2008 United States presidential election}}[[File:U.S. Senator from Kansas Sam Brownback officially opened his GOP presidential candidacy' Iowa campaign headquarters in West Des Moines, IA.jpg|thumb|Senator Brownback officially opening his [[Iowa]] campaign headquarters in [[West Des Moines, IA]]]]
On December 4, 2006, Brownback formed an [[exploratory committee]], the first step toward a presidential candidacy.<ref name="favorite">[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/04/brownback.2008.ap/index.html "Favorite of religious right moves toward White House bid"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102112730/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/04/brownback.2008.ap/index.html |date=January 2, 2007 }} by [[Associated Press]]. [[CNN]], December 4, 2006.</ref> In reporting on his potential candidacy, ''CNN'' and ''The Washington Post'' called Brownback a "favorite" of the religious right;<ref name="favorite" /><ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/06/AR2007010600230_pf.html |title=Brownback to Move on Presidential Bid |last=Sidoti |first=Liz |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 6, 2007 |access-date=July 24, 2023 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822072604/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/06/AR2007010600230_pf.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' called him "God's senator" in 2006.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/sam-brownback-gods-senator-883564/|title=God's Senator|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|last=Sharlet|first=Jeff|date=February 9, 2006|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724211129/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/sam-brownback-gods-senator-883564/|url-status=live}}</ref> His views placed him in the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party, and he stressed his [[fiscal conservatism]] as well. "I am an economic, a fiscal, a social and a compassionate conservative", he said in December 2006.<ref name="auto1"/>

On January 20, 2007, in Topeka, Brownback announced that he was running for [[President of the United States|president]] in [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2774442 |title=Brownback to Move on Presidential Bid |access-date=August 11, 2007 |date=January 6, 2007 |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411134803/http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2774442 |archive-date=April 11, 2008 }}</ref> On February 22, 2007, a poll conducted by [[Rasmussen Reports]] held that three percent of likely primary voters would support Brownback.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070221/pl_rasmussen/gopprimary20070221_1|title=news.yahoo.com|accessdate=September 10, 2023}}</ref>
[[File:Senator Sam Brownback to David Shankbone on religion in America.ogg|thumb|Brownback discusses science and religion in American politics in October 2007, during his presidential run.<ref name="Faith-Based Initiative">{{cite news|last=Copeland|first=Libby|title=Faith-Based Initiative|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/06/AR2006060601616_pf.html|access-date=March 15, 2012|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 7, 2006|archive-date=April 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415082508/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/06/AR2006060601616_pf.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
On August 11, 2007, Brownback finished third in the [[Ames Straw Poll]] with 15.3% of all votes cast.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/02/09/is_the_ames_straw_poll_useless_125535.html|title=Is the Ames Straw Poll Useless? {{!}} RealClearPolitics|access-date=October 19, 2016|archive-date=February 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213190019/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2015/02/09/is_the_ames_straw_poll_useless_125535.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fundraising and visits to his website declined dramatically after this event, as many supporters had predicted Brownback would do much better,<ref name="ks_loses_patience_cbs_news">[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-loses-patience-governor-sam-brownback-tax-cuts/ "Kansas loses patience with Gov. Brownback's tax cuts,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023035017/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-loses-patience-governor-sam-brownback-tax-cuts/ |date=October 23, 2016 }} ''CBS News,'' retrieved November 11, 2016</ref> and speculation began that the candidate was considering withdrawing from the campaign. This sentiment increased after his lackluster performance in the GOP presidential debate of September 5, broadcast from [[New Hampshire]] by [[Fox News Channel]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa |last=Wangsness |title=Romney trounces GOP field in Iowa straw poll |url=https://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/12/romney_trounces_gop_field_in_iowa_straw_poll/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=August 12, 2007 |access-date=August 21, 2007 |archive-date=November 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119030052/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/08/12/romney_trounces_gop_field_in_iowa_straw_poll/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He dropped out of the race on October 18, 2007, citing a lack of funds.<ref>[http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/325073.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022025030/http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/325073.html|date=October 22, 2007}}</ref> Brownback formally announced his decision on October 19.<ref name="withdrew">[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/102007dnnatbrownback.1d7a7ce.html Republican Sam Brownback ends White House run] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020150305/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/102007dnnatbrownback.1d7a7ce.html |date=October 20, 2007 }} ''Dallas Morning News'' October 19, 2007. Retrieved October 20, 2007.</ref> He later endorsed [[John McCain]] for president.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sam-brownback-endorses-john-mccain |publisher=[[Fox News]] |title=Sam Brownback Endorses John McCain |date=November 7, 2007 |access-date=November 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019004852/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,308960,00.html |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>