Republican presidential primary election, 2002 was a heated affair in which a dozen Republicans sought the chance to challenge Democrat President Josiah Bartlet.
Republican candidates
- Arnold Vinick, Senator of California
- Don Butler, Televangelist from Virginia
- Glen Allen Walken, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Missouri
- Mike Reed, Governor of Ohio
- Darren Gibson, Congressman of Michigan
- Joe Allard, Governor of Kansas
- Johnson, Congressman of South Dakota
Early preperationsAfter retaining the House and Senate in the 2004 mid-term elections, and President Bartlet's revolation of his MS, Republicans saw a opportunity to regain the White House.
Walken and Reed were considerd early front runners, with Gibson, Allard,and Vinick being candidates with momentum.
Former Governor Robert Ritchie who had lost devastatingly to Bartlet in 2002, had been expected to run but ultimatley decided aganist it and endorsed Vinick. Alabama Senator and 1998 Vice-presidential nominee Robert Bennett had also been expected to enter the race, but also declined. Former Vice Presidential Candidate Jeff Heston was also expected to run but ultimately declined.
Allard won in Iowa, but lost momentum when Vinick won, New Hampshire, Florida and Nevada.Governor Mike Reed dropped out after losing Florida a place he expected to gain momentum in. Gibson lost his home state, falling to sixth place and withdrew. Johnson withdrew after losing in Iowa, but did not endorse any candidates in the field. Butler won South Carolina and several other southern states on Super Tuesday. Walken won his homestate, Missouri, North Dakota, Colorado and Minnesota. The winner at the end was Vinick after the New Jersey Primary. He selected Ray Sullivan as his running mate.