Posted on 10/12/2007 10:35:16 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani is picking up the endorsement of one-time GOP rival Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and Bush Cabinet member.
"Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader," Thompson said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press. "He is America's mayor, and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership."
The former New York mayor is to accept the endorsement in Charleston, S.C., later Friday.
Thompson is the first former 2008 Republican presidential candidate to endorse in the race. He dropped out in August after finishing sixth in an Iowa test vote measuring organization and popularity in the state that holds the leadoff caucuses.
Giuliani could use the endorsement to try to mollify skeptical Iowans and other Midwesterners who are concerned about his moderate-to-liberal stances on social issues. He will be able to point out that a prominent Republican from their backyard is supporting him.
On the other hand, Thompson left the race because voters weren't gravitating toward him and he doesn't bring with him much support in early voting Iowa or elsewhere. He languished in single digits in polls there, and barely registered in national surveys while in the race.
During a morning speech Friday in Columbia, S.C., Giuliani kept up his criticism of Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The New York senator has "never run a government. She's never run a state," Giuliani told several hundred homebuilders and real estate agents in this early voting state. "She's never run a business."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
As one Northern liberal ‘Pubbie to another, it’s no surprise Tommy endorses Rudy.
A RINO endorsing a RINO. I’ll bet he has Arlen Spector’s support too...
More Republican/Conservative sniveling, good grief, wake up people.
Yes, they were obviously shooting at Fred again.
But no surprise here... Nor on Tommy’s endorsement.
Combine this with Bartlett, and you get the Whitehouse unofficially endorsing Rudy Guiliani.
Its hard to see how the President can disappoint me more in his second, and thankfully last, term in office.
Frankly, I’d rather lose at that point.....
“A RINO endorsing a RINO. I’ll bet he has Arlen Spector’s support too...”
Rudy will pick up 10 votes : )
Fred has my vote in the primary, but I will happily vote for Rudy if he is the candidate. I believe both of them are very strong candidates, and the only two who can beat the Clinton machine. I just wish we could have a debate without these other jokers up on the stage.
As hard as Rudy tries he can not beat Ms. Clinton for the Democrat nomination.
No Rudy, no way, no how.
He is just a little bit better than Hillary.
At that point, just like Reagan said about the Democrats, the Republican Party will have left me, I did not leave the Republican Party.
I will vote for the Conservative and Pro-Life candidate whomever that will be.
And mark my word, there will be one.
Rudy is the only candidate with a R next to his name guaranteed to make Hillary President!
Our dog catcher was endorsed by our garbage collector. While this might be news locally, many folks in the next county are going to wonder who our garbage collector is.
“the Whitehouse unofficially endorsing Rudy Guiliani”
Surprised it hasn’t happened already.
It did, with Bartlett’s comments a few days ago. He blasted every GOP nominee EXCEPT Rudy Guiliani.
I’m finally at the point where I’m looking forward to President Bush going back to Crawford for good.
I’ll miss Laura as First Lady, but thats about it.
Well, we know for sure that Tommy Thompson has made at least one mistake recently.
Eehhh (rinsing mouth out) lol
Even though he never broke out enough to win, his likeability, and name recognition also were pretty huge in Iowa.
So much for the Thompson/Thompson ticket.
I knew there was a reason I never liked T. Thompson without ever knowing why until today.
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