Questions for the Candidates

The Associated Press asked seven Democrats and seven Republicans running for their party's 2008 presidential nomination a series of questions about their backgrounds, traits and tastes. Check out the personal side of the following candidates:

Democrats: Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

Republicans: Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, California Rep. Duncan Hunter, Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo.

DEMOCRATS

BIDEN

Alternate career choice: Architect.

Favorite food to cook: Pasta.

Desert island necessity: "Jill, my wife."

Favorite reality TV program: "Don't have one."

Favorite fitness activity: Weightlifting.

Worst habit: "Too many to list. :)"

"Sleeping-in" time: 8:30-9 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Designing homes."

Last music purchase: "My sister's playlist."

Cars you drive: 1967 Corvette, a wedding gift from his dad in 1967 when Biden married his first wife, Neilia.

Home task that needs tending: "Maintaining shrubbery."

Last work of fiction read: "Runaway Jury" by John Grisham.

Pets at home: A cat.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Favorite subject was American jurisprudence at the University of Delaware; least favorite was contracts at Syracuse University Law School.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Rosary beads."

CLINTON:

Alternate career choice: "Continue to work for causes and issues I care about, in a setting like a university or foundation."

Favorite food to cook: "I'm a lousy cook, but I make pretty good soft scrambled eggs."

Desert island necessity: "A good book."

Favorite reality TV program: "American Idol."

Favorite fitness activity: Speed walking.

Worst habit: Chocolate.

"Sleeping-in" time: "I feel lucky when I can sleep until 7 a.m."

Hidden talent: "I love crossword puzzles."

Last music purchase: Carly Simon's "Into White."

Cars you drive: "For security reasons, we drive in Secret Service vehicles but the Service lets us use a Ford hybrid when we're home in New York."

Home task that needs tending: "Organizing my closets."

Last work of fiction read: "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Pets at home: "Seamus, our Lab."

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: "I always loved history and got good grades, but I never did well at math."

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Olive burgers from the Pickwick in Chicago."

DODD

Alternate career choice: Teacher.

Favorite food to cook: "An August New England dinner: Lobster, corn and tomatoes."

Desert island necessity: "Coffee with cream and sugar."

Favorite reality TV program: "'American Idol,' which I say often reminds me of running for president sometimes."

Favorite fitness activity: Cross training, tennis and biking

Worst habit: "Running late, even when my staff does everything in their power to prevent it."

"Sleeping-in" time: "With a 2 year old and a 5 year old?"

Hidden talent: "Speaking Spanish fluently -- I picked it up while in the Dominican Republic as a Peace Corps volunteer."

Last music purchase: Soundtrack to "Jersey Boys."

Cars you drive: 2007 Ford Escape hybrid, a compact SUV.

Home task that needs tending: "My 2 year old who wakes up beginning at 3 every morning!"

Last work of fiction read: "The Broker" by John Grisham.

Pets at home: None because of family's allergies. Would like a dog.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Best, U.S. history. No answer on worst subject.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "New England fall foliage."

EDWARDS

Alternate career choice: Mill supervisor.

Favorite food to cook: Hamburgers.

Desert island necessity: "A book."

Favorite reality TV program: College basketball.

Favorite fitness activity: Running.

Worst habit: "Drinking soda."

"Sleeping-in" time: 7 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Jump shot."

Last music purchase: U2.

Cars you drive: Ford Escape hybrid. This spring, also reported having a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica midsize SUV and 1994 GMC truck.

Home task that needs tending: "Clearing paths in the woods."

Last work of fiction read: "Exile" by Richard North Patterson.

Pets at home: Golden retriever and chocolate lab.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Best, English; worst, chemistry.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Mills."

KUCINICH

Alternate career choice: Astronaut.

Favorite food to cook: Hot water, according to his wife, Elizabeth. Doesn't cook. A vegan, he favors fresh fruits and vegetables.

Desert island necessity: His wife.

Favorite reality TV program: C-SPAN coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives. No time for other TV.

Favorite fitness activity: Walking fast.

Worst habit: "Ask my wife, Elizabeth."

"Sleeping-in" time: 8:30 a.m., according to his wife. But bedtime is usually 2 a.m. and the alarm goes off at 6 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Hits just as well against right-handers as left-handers."

Last music purchase: Likes Willie Nelson.

Cars you drive: Ford Focus compact.

Home task that needs tending: The garden.

Last work of fiction read: "Einstein's Dreams" by Alan Lightman.

Pets at home: Pound rescues Harry the beagle-basset, Lucie the beagle and George the cocker spaniel.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Best subject, English; worst, biology.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Compass."

OBAMA

Alternate career choice: Architect.

Favorite food to cook: Chili.

Desert island necessity: "Other than my wife and my kids, an inanimate object I would have to have would probably be a good book."

Favorite reality TV program: "Other than the U.S. Senate on C-SPAN? I don't watch them too often."

Favorite fitness activity: Basketball.

Worst habit: "Checking my Blackberry."

"Sleeping-in" time: 8 a.m.

Hidden talent: "I'm a pretty good poker player."

Last music purchase: "The latest music purchase would probably be 'Ray' -- the soundtrack from the Ray Charles movie."

Cars you drive: Chrysler 300C, a full-size sport-luxury sedan.

Home task that needs tending: "Too numerous to list."

Last work of fiction read: "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson.

Pets at home: None.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law; D in 8th grade French.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Photograph in my office of the cliffs of Oahu's South Shore, where my mother's ashes are scattered."

RICHARDSON

Alternate career choice: Center field, New York Yankees.

Favorite food to cook: Diet milkshake.

Desert island necessity: "Blackberry and a Davidoff cigar."

Favorite reality TV program: "Fox News."

Favorite fitness activity: Horseback riding and tennis.

Worst habit: "Straying from my diet."

"Sleeping-in" time: 7 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Boxing trivia."

Last music purchase: George Strait, "50 Number Ones."

Cars you drive: "Jeep Wrangler, although my security doesn't like me to drive."

Home task that needs tending: "Taking out the garbage at the mansion."

Last work of fiction read: "The administration's energy plan."

Pets at home: Cats Jake and Squeaky.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: A in spelling; F in music.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Green chili."

REPUBLICANS

BROWNBACK

Alternate career choice: Farmer.

Favorite food to cook: Beef.

Desert island necessity: "Tarp."

Favorite reality TV program: "None this season; too busy. Last season it was 'The Amazing Race.'"

Favorite fitness activity: Elliptical trainer.

Worst habit: "Being late."

"Sleeping-in" time: 7:30 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Auctioneering. Bull riding (once in college.)."

Last music purchase: Christian artist Michael W. Smith.

Cars you drive: Ford Taurus in Washington and Honda Civic hybrid in Kansas.

Home task that needs tending: "Mowing the lawn."

Last work of fiction read: "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson with David and Heather Kopp.

Pets at home: Two dogs, two cats and a fish.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Best, agricultural economy; worst, music.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Wheat."

GIULIANI

Alternate career choice: Sports announcer.

Favorite food to cook: Hamburgers or steak on the grill.

Desert island necessity: "Books and music."

Favorite reality TV program: Baseball.

Favorite fitness activity: Golf.

Worst habit: "Talking too much."

"Sleeping-in" time: 8 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Listening."

Last music purchase: Verdi's "Macbeth."

Cars you drive: "I don't drive, I navigate."

Home task that needs tending: "Cleaning the fireplace."

Last work of fiction read: "The Beach House" by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge.

Pets at home: None.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Best, constitutional law and contracts in law school. Worst, tax in law school.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "My grandfather's pocketwatch."

HUCKABEE

Alternate career choice: Bass guitar player for a touring rock band.

Favorite food to cook: Ribeye steak on the grill.

Desert island necessity: "Laptop with satellite reception."

Favorite reality TV program: "Nashville Star," USA Network's country music competition.

Favorite fitness activity: Running.

Worst habit: "Channel surfing on TV or radio."

"Sleeping-in" time: "Five a.m. is late for me. Most days I am up no later than 4:30 a.m."

Hidden talent: "Voice impersonations of dozens of celebrities."

Last music purchase: Evanescence, the goth rock group from Little Rock, Ark.

Cars you drive: 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and 1995 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

Home task that needs tending: "Cleaning garage."

Last work of fiction read: "My oldest son's screenplay."

Pets at home: Jet the 9-year-old black Lab, Sonic the 1 1/2-year-old Shih Tzu.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: A+ (100 percent average) in debate; C in 9th Grade algebra.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Trains. My childhood home was only about 200 yards from the train tracks."

HUNTER

Alternate career choice: Outdoor writer.

Favorite food to cook: Chicken fried venison.

Desert island necessity: "Mrs. Hunter."

Favorite reality TV program: Watches Versus, previously called the Outdoor Life Network.

Favorite fitness activity: Hunting, fishing and hiking.

Worst habit: "Not turning off the Outdoor Life Network (now Versus) before I go to sleep."

"Sleeping-in" time: 7:30 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Making rifle scabbards out of leather."

Last music purchase: Favors country and gospel.

Cars you drive: "Suburban with 274,000 miles on it."

Home task that needs tending: "Finishing the rebuilding of our house that burned down -- a big task."

Last work of fiction read: "The Democrats' proposal to balance the budget."

Pets at home: Two black labs, Boo and Hunter.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: Favorite college subject was contract law. No answer on worst subject.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Letters and articles by my Dad written over the past 60 years."

MCCAIN

Alternate career choice: Foreign service.

Favorite food to cook: Baby-back ribs.

Desert island necessity: "Books."

Favorite reality TV program: Arizona Diamondbacks baseball.

Favorite fitness activity: Hiking.

Worst habit: "Coffee."

"Sleeping-in" time: 8 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Barbecue grill chef."

Last music purchase: Likes "Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best Of The Beach Boys."

Cars you drive: Cadillac CTS, a midsize luxury sedan.

Home task that needs tending: "Grilling."

Last work of fiction read: "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway.

Pets at home: Sam the English springer spaniel, Coco the mutt, turtles Cuff and Link, Oreo the black and white cat, a ferret, three parakeets and 13 saltwater fish.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: "I never got good grades."

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Enchiladas."

ROMNEY

Alternate career choice: Auto company chief executive.

Favorite food to cook: Hot dog.

Desert island necessity: "My wife, Ann."

Favorite reality TV program: "American Idol."

Favorite fitness activity: Jogging.

Worst habit: "Fidgeting."

"Sleeping-in" time: 7 a.m.

Hidden talent: "Singing."

Last music purchase: "Selection of Roy Orbison songs from iTunes."

Cars you drive: 2005 Ford Mustang convertible.

Home task that needs tending: "Clean the gutters."

Last work of fiction read: "Term Limits" by Vince Flynn.

Pets at home: Family recently lost Marley, a Weimaraner.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: A to F. "Fortunately, I got more A's than F's."

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: "Family Bible that Dad and I used to take oath of office as governor."

TANCREDO:

Alternate career choice: President.

Favorite food to cook: Doesn't cook.

Desert island necessity: "Boat."

Favorite reality TV program: None.

Favorite fitness activity: Hunting.

Worst habit: "Cigar smoking."

"Sleeping-in" time: 8 a.m.

Hidden talent: "After 30 years in politics, there is no talent that has not been exploited."

Last music purchase: "Frank Sinatra duet combo."

Cars you drive: Toyota Prius hybrid, Cadillac, Mercedes, Buick.

Home task that needs tending: Christmas lights.

Last work of fiction read: "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore.

Pets at home: No longer has a pet.

Best and worst grades or subjects in school: A+ in high school civics; failed high school French.

Item that most reminds you of where you came from: Picture of his mother.

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