|
Posted on 02.05.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 3:10 pm
I just got this email that seems to have been making the rounds to some conservative bloggers and activists. Apparently, a handful of former Fred Thompson supporters are keeping the faith. They’ve been trying to organize grassroots supporters to vote for Thompson anyway, despite the fact that he’s dropped out of the race…
The idea isn’t quite as crazy as it might sound. Back in 1992, Paul Tsongas suspended his campaign and then rejoined the race, thinking Clinton had been fatally wounded by a string of sex scandals. It didn’t quite work for Tsongas, but he did perform well in New York. But Tsongas had won several other states before dropping out, collecting hundreds of delegates. Fred Thompson hasn’t come close. He finished second in Wyoming and third in South Carolina and Iowa. He had been awarded only 11 delegates prior to ending his campaign a couple of weeks ago. Thompson just might win a couple of delegates today, but it’s doubtful this effort will entice the former Senator back into the race. Particularly considering how little he seems to have wanted the job in the first place. Filed under: Fred Thompson and Super Tuesday Comments: 20 Comments |
|
Posted on 02.04.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 12:48 pm
Much was made about Fred Thompson’s exit from the Republican race a couple of weeks ago. His third place showings in Iowa and South Carolina were just not enough to carry his campaign along to this point. He was widely expected to make an announcement in support of John McCain. In fact, the two men are very friendly and Thompson was working on McCain’s campaign prior to entering the race himself. But thus far, no endorsement has come. Tomorrow, Fred’s homestate of Tennessee will vote and an endorsement might help tip the scales a bit to favor McCain. And while McCain was there over the weekend, the official campaign schedule doesn’t show him stopping in Tennessee either today or tomorrow. So maybe the McCain campaign is saving Thompson’s endorsement for a very last minute surprise to capture some media attention in the final hours before voters head to the polls. If there is a Fred Thompson surprise planned for today or tomorrow morning, the McCain campaign has done a really good job of not leaking it to the press. I’ve not seen any rumors in the media, or even among volunteers, that a Thompson endorsement is in the works. Perhaps then Fred Thompson is just done with politics and doesn’t care who wins any more. That may be the case. Consider the fact that he could barely bother to pull out of the race, managing to issue only a short statement to the press. One thing we can probably say for sure is that there will be no Attorney General Fred Thompson in a McCain administration unless an endorsement comes along in the next 24 hours. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Fred Thompson and John McCain and Super Tuesday Comments: 18 Comments |
|
Posted on 01.27.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 6:13 pm
Darrell Ng, the Thompson campaign’s “main point of contact for the media on all travel logistics and scheduling,” has some free time now that Fred has dropped out of the race. And he’s decided to put his time and effort into a boycott of Huckabee supporter Chuck Norris. A few days ago, Ng launched BoycottChuckNorris.com with the aim of hitting the actor and martial arts champion where it hurts - in his wallet. The site urges a boycott of all Chuck Norris related entertainment products. The Total Gym, a home exercise product whose spokesperson is Chuck Norris, is also being boycotted. Among other companies targeted are KFC, Payless ShoeSource, Nutrisystem, Tylenol, Geico. All are cited as advertisers on “Walker, Texas Ranger” reruns that air on the USA Network. When asked why he was targeting Norris and not other celebrities who had backed Presidential candidates, Ng responded that: “But Chuck Norris has endorsed a candidate, went out on the stump with him numerous times in different states and even appeared in a commercial with him. To me, that sets him apart and makes him fair game.” Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Endorsements and Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee Comments: 2 Comments |
|
Posted on 01.22.08 by Austin Cassidy @ 9:47 pm
Former Senator Fred Thompson has made the decision that many were expecting following his third place showing in Saturday’s South Carolina primary. “Today, I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort,” the former Tennessee senator said. Thompson is the second Republican to leave the race since voting actually began in early January. On Saturday, Congressman Duncan Hunter also abandoned his long-shot campaign. It’s been rumored that Thompson would likely endorse his old friend John McCain, but no announcement is being made at this time. It is possible that the McCain campaign would want to use that endorsement prior to January 29th’s Florida primary, but there could also be reason to wait. Thompson’s endorsement in early February could be a crucial last-minute momentum boost for McCain heading into the Super Tuesday primaries. Thompson’s exit from the race will free up those who have endorsed him to now back other candidates. As an example, former New York Senator and Thompson-supporter Al D’Amato threw his backing behind John McCain today. Filed under: Campaign 2008 and Fred Thompson Comments: 2 Comments |
