Regardless of who tops the Republican presidential ticket next year, Rep. Duncan Hunter will have long coattails in at least one congressional race — that’s because the leading candidate to replace the 14-term House Member is also Duncan Hunter, his 30-year-old son.

The elder Mr. Hunter may be floundering in his presidential campaign at 3% in the national polls — his bleak third-quarter fund-raising report showed him with just $200,00 in the bank. But his son is already the instant front-runner based on name recognition and endorsements. Plus, he’s raised a respectable $171,730, and even more impressively, did it while serving 8,000 miles away with the Marines in Afghanistan.

Capt. Hunter had already served a tour in Iraq when he was unexpectedly ordered back into action after announcing his candidacy. Marine lawyers eventually signed off, so now his wife Margaret and various aides are handling stump duties until he returns in January. But even with the Hunter name and a great military backstory, he’s expected to face at least three strong opponents in the June GOP primary: wealthy swimming-pool installer Ken King, Santee City Councilman Brian Jones and Republican activist Bob Watkins.

Normally, a Republican would be considered a shoo-in to win the conservative San Diego-area district, but Democrats may also have a ringer: Retired Navy SEAL Mike Lumpkin, just back from serving as deputy commander of Special Ops in the Arabian Gulf region.

Capt. Hunter’s military experience will be a major calling card. He’s been critical of the military bureaucracy and of political micromanagement of the war. One story has him cursing into a satellite phone because of higher-echelon dithering while his men were trying to capture Fallujah. The recipient of the call? His Congressman father.