CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT PROCESS - Candidates for national office - from any party - that are identified as veterans, military family members, or veterans'-advocates are sent an inquiry as to their interest in endorsement by VMFP. We make every possible effort to contact all candidates for national office so that, if they respond, we can consider their responses. If they respond affirmatively, they are sent copies of our two campaign questionnaires. Upon return of the questionnaires, completed according to the instructions contained therein, the questionnaires are considered by the Government Affairs Committee to determine whether the candidate's answers are satisfactorily in alignment with VMFP policy goals. When the committee determines that a candidate's responses meet our criteria, a recommendation is made to the VMFP board to endorse that candidate. When the board approves, an endorsement letter and press release are sent to the candidate's campaign.