John P. Kline (R-Minn.)

In 1980, Kline was assigned to the White House, carrying the nuclear "football" containing weapons-launch codes for President Jimmy Carter. He would do the same for President Ronald Reagan until 1982.

Other duties included commanding aviation forces in Somalia. At the Corps' headquarters in Arlington, Va., he worked on its $50 billion program objective memorandum, a budget and planning analysis. Kline remained with the Marines through 1994, when he retired as a colonel and moved to Minnesota.

Failed 1998 and 2000 House Bids

In 1998, the politically-unknown Kline won his party's nomination to face Luther, who was seeking a third term. Kline was at a considerable financial disadvantage and never ran a television ad. He ran on a platform of lower taxes, a reduced federal role in education, increased defense spending and banning abortion rights in almost all cases. After losing the election by four points, Kline said, "I'm planning to run again."

He did so in 2000, this time with backing from the GOP, both financially and on the campaign trail, which included stumping from presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). An estimated $8 million was spent on the two campaigns, mostly from outside groups on behalf of the Republican challenger. Kline lost by only one-and-a-half points.

2002 House Campaign

Kline ran for Congress a third time in 2002, this time vying in the 2nd district, which Luther sought to represent following redistricting. The new district leaned Republican and was composed of only 40 percent of Luther's old constituents.

Unlike the earlier contests, the 2002 race proved particularly nasty. Luther's campaign manager encouraged a third-party candidate, Sam Garst of the "No New Taxes Party," to file in order to draw votes away from Kline. The move, initially denied by Luther's camp, was denounced by Republicans and prompted Luther to apologize for his manager's actions.

Though Kline fell behind on fundraising, he had campaign help from President Bush. In November, Kline finally defeated Luther by a healthy 11-point margin. Kline has had no trouble getting reelected since.

Kline sits on three House committees: Intelligence, Armed Services and Education and Labor. He was named the ranking Republican of the Education and Labor Committee in June 2009.

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