The 'Paw' Vote: Presidential Candidates' Pets

"First Pet" is a long-standing tradition in the White House, with recent residents like Buddy the lab and Millie the spaniel finding themselves in the headlines almost as often as their owners-in-chief.

So who is the front-running candidate for pet ownership? Among the field of fourteen dogs, six cats, 14 fish, two turtles named Cuff and Link, three birds and a ferret, John McCain leads the pack (literally) with 22 pets. Barack Obama, who has no pets, is apparently fielding pressure from his daughters to get a dog if he wins the election. Here is a breakdown, by party, of who owns -- or is owned by -- what: ___ DEMOCRATS - Delaware Senator Joe Biden: 1 cat. - New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton: "Seamus, our Lab." - Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd: None, because of family's allergies. Would like a dog. - Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards: Golden retriever and chocolate Lab. - Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich: Pound-rescues Harry the beagle-basset, Lucie the beagle and George the cocker spaniel (on a purely personal dog breed preference opinion, anyone with a rescue "bagel" and beagle gets my vote!) - New Mexico Governor. Bill Richardson: Cats Jake and Squeaky. REPUBLICANS - Kansas Senator Sam Brownback: Two dogs, two cats and a fish. - Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: None. - Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: Jet the 9-year-old black Lab, Sonic the 1 1/2-year-old Shih Tzu. (on another purely personal dog breed preference opinion, I would never vote for anyone who has a Shih Tzu.) - California Representative Duncan Hunter: Two black Labs, Boo and Hunter. - Arizona Sen. John McCain: 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. - Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney: Family recently lost Marley, a Weimaraner. - Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: No longer has a pet.