Presidential Candidates’ Dogs, Cats, and More

If U.S. presidential candidates were elected based on how many pets they have, then Arizona Sen. John McCain would have the 2008 election in his pocket.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, McCain said that he has 22 pets at home: two dogs, one cat, 13 saltwater fish, three parakeets, two turtles, and a ferret.

The AP queried the current crop of 2008 presidential candidates about how many pets live in their home and McCain had far more than any other candidate.

The second-highest tally was that of Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who, like McCain, is a Republican. Brownback said he has five pets in his home: two dogs, two cats, and a fish.

The complete list of presidential candidates’ pets includes:

• Delaware Sen. Joe Biden (Democrat): One cat.
• Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback (Republican): Two dogs, two cats and a fish.
• New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat): Seamus, a Labrador Retriever.
• Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (Democrat): None due to family’s allergies, but said he would like a dog.
• Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (Democrat): Two dogs: a Golden Retriever and Chocolate Labrador.
• Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (Republican): None.
• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (Republican): Jet, a 9-year-old black Labrador Retriever and Sonic, a one-and-a-half-year-old Shih Tzu.
• California Rep. Duncan Hunter (Republican): Two black Labrador Retrievers named Boo and Hunter.
• Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Democrat): Harry the Beagle-Basset, Lucie the Beagle, and George the Cocker Spaniel, all of whom were rescued from animal shelters.
• Arizona Sen. John McCain (Republican): Sam the English Springer Spaniel; Coco the mixed breed; turtles Cuff and Link; Oreo the black and white cat; a ferret; three parakeets, and 13 saltwater fish.
• Illinois Sen. Barack Obama (Democrat): None.
• New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (Democrat): Two cats, Jake and Squeaky.
• Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (Republican): Family recently lost Marley, a Weimaraner.
• Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo (Republican): None.