Chicago Investment Advisor Testing Presidential Waters

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday March 25th

Concord - It's not just the big names coming to New Hampshire to test the waters for a possible run at the Presidency in 2008.

A wealthy Chicago investment adviser and political unknown, John Cox, is in the state this weekend hoping to get support in his effort to secure the GOP nomination to run for President.

Cox, whose only prior elected office was a stint on the Glenview, Ill., school board at age 27, said he believes voters want someone who's not a career politician.

Cox ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination in the 10th Congressional District in Illinois in 2000 and for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate in 2002.

Cox described himself as a "progressive conservative" and proposed to eliminate the income tax, replacing it with a national sales tax.

He argued most problems are better solved by the free market and not by government. He said he supports the war in Iraq and believes providing the Iraqi people with greater economic opportunities will help bring peace.

"I've got enough money to get a seat at the table, and I'm going to get my ideas heard," he said in a phone interview on his way to Dover yesterday.

Cox also planned an appearance in Stratham last night and said he would attend the state GOP's annual meeting today in Milford.