Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Keyes ya fara bayyana cewa yana tunanin barin Jam'iyyar Republican yayin bayyanar Janairu 2008 a shirin rediyo na The Weekly Filibuster. Bai janye takararsa ba bayan da John McCain ya lashe wakilai 1,191 da ake bukata a majalisar
Jam'iyyar Republican National Convention, duk da cewa bai sake yin yakin neman zaben jam'iyyar Republican ba. A ranar 27 ga Maris, 2008, shafin yanar gizon yakin neman zaben Keyes ya fara nuna tambarin Jam'iyyar Tsarin Mulki, tare da kwaikwayon tambarin GOP mai alamar kasuwanci a cikin sifar matattu giwa. Wannan ya zama alama ce ta niyyar Keyes ta fice daga jam'iyyar Republican kuma ta fara neman takarar shugaban kasa ta Jam'iyyar Tsarin Mulki.