SAN DIEGO - Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, will continue his campaign swing through South Carolina today, a day after formally declaring his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.

Hunter plans to discuss his support for U.S. involvement in the Iraq War, "fair and equitable trade," and his opposition to illegal immigration, an aide said, adding the congressman also will field questions from voters at the Charleston School of Law.

Hunter formally declared his candidacy in Spartanburg, S.C. yesterday, saying, "With the support of our families, with faith in God and with confidence in goodness of the American people, let's begin this race for the American presidency."

Hunter first announced his intention to run for president on Oct. 30 and formed an exploratory committee earlier this month.

He is campaigning in south Carolina because it is the second state to hold a Republican presidential primary, scheduled for Feb. 2, 2008, five days after New Hampshire. The delegate selection process will begin with the Iowa caucuses Jan. 21, 2008.

Hunter's formal entrance into the race drew a sarcastic response from the Democratic National Committee.

"We welcome Hunter's candidacy, which together with his fellow Republican presidential contenders, serves as a potent reminder of why the voters rejected the Republican Party's failed leadership in November and why they'll reject it again in 2008," Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda said.

Hunter, 58, was elected to the House in 1980 and re-elected every two years since. He was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee from 2003 until the Democratic takeover of the House earlier this month.

Hunter has billed himself as the most conservative Republican presidential candidate, which he said gave him a chance for victory despite low name recognition.

He has sought to echo former President Ronald Reagan in calling for "Peace through strength."

"Peace through strength are three words that, when uttered with conviction by a man of principle and great leadership, and backed up by decisive action, had the power to free hundreds of millions of people from the oppression of communism and saved this country from the specter of mutually assured destruction," Hunter said in a statement posted on his campaign's Web site, Gohunter08.com.

"It was in a speech entitled, `A Time for Choosing,' that Ronald Reagan ignited the conservative movement in America and began the death knell of communism.

"Peace through strength became our charge. I firmly believe that it will take continued, unwavering dedication to that same calling to achieve victory against the evil terrorist threat we now confront."

In addition to having to overcome low name recognition and being at 1 percent in several polls among Republican presidential hopefuls, Hunter will also have to overcome history to be elected president. No sitting member of the House has been elected president since Republican James A. Garfield in 1880. CNS-01-26-2007 06:10