By: Mark Memmott and Jill Lawrence
January 16, 2008

Add "Draft Lou Dobbs" to the efforts by independents to bring another candidate into the presidential race.

The movement was launched today by Americans for Legal Immigration. The group, in a press release, praises the CNN host for "his tough stance on border security and curbing illegal immigration. While encouraging voters to register as independents, Dobbs addresses a host of issues dealing with the economy, trade agreements, election integrity, and America's middle class that would appeal to Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters alike."

William Gheen, who heads the organization and its political action committee, says in that release that Dobbs "could run and win because he could easily raise the funds and grassroots support he needs to be a historic and viable candidate quickly. The public is eager to rebuke the D.C. status quo and would quickly rally to Dobbs."

Would Dobbs do it? "I cannot say never," he told The Wall Street Journal earlier this month, about presidential speculation.

Yesterday, a Draft Bloomberg effort was launched by fans of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/20 ... dobbs.html