Waldheim, his 1986 presidential opponent, died less a month before Steyrer in June 2007.

Both former President Bill Clinton and his presidential opponent in 1996, Bob Dole have endorsed the organization's Families for Freedom fund and have assisted in its fund-racing efforts since September.

He has been criticized by socially conservative Republican presidential primary opponents Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann for not consistently supporting the doctrine that life begins at conception.

As a hero of the struggle against Ian D. Smith's white government, he remains popular, and there is little doubt that he would have easily beaten any presidential opponent.

Perhaps President Bush considers a dispute with his 2000 presidential opponent beneath him.

By late 2003, when presidential opponents began their campaigns in earnest, his approval numbers were in the low to middle 50s.

And even before enlisting, he passed up a chance to serve in the National Guard - the military option chosen by his presidential opponent, George W. Bush.

Among defeated Democrats that year was McFarland, who lost to then-little-known Barry Goldwater, Johnson's future presidential opponent.

"Sarkozy, is just a better actor than [his presidential opponent] Ségolène Royal-that's all," he explained.

Maga's only presidential opponent was Ahomadegbé-Tomêtin, whose running mate was Sacca Koto Ngobi.