[Josh Painter]

Fredipedia v2.35: The Definitive Fred Thompson Quick Reference

[CheyennePress]

I like Thompson, but I doubt this sinks Romney. He’s by far the most talented candidate when it comes to debating and public speaking, and that includes Thompson, who isn’t so shabby himself.

It should get interesting.

[SE Mom]

I’ve read differing views on this early defection to our guy. Some see it as her bid to start becoming more of a national player- coat-tails and all..

Others seem to think she just thinks Fred’s a better candidate- and knows her switch will help his (non) campaign..

[Rameumptom]

Since she and Fred are friends and share homestate it makes sense to support him. I'm fine with Fred getting in the race. The million dollar question is when. As Mitt says "Jump on in the water's fine." Previous article here Romney loses a key backer to Thompson

[Clintonfatigued]

I’m hoping that if Thompson runs, he and Romney have spirited exchanges, but don’t get negative or personal. A Thompson/Romney ticket is a very intriguing possibility, and it would bring a lot of strength to the GOP.

[George W. Bush]

Thompson could deflate over time. Or even rather quickly.

It really depends on Fred, how bad he wants it, how determined he is, whether his health and age are a factor (he does look a little frail the way McCain does).

Fred's later entry may cause him major problems.

I also think that it's more likely to hurt McCain than Romney.

[babygene]

Well, it’s clear to me that if Fred runs, (and I expect he will) ALL the other candidates will loose... Republican and Democrat

[TexanSniper]

“the first and quickest casualty of Fred Thompson getting in the race would be Romney.”

Wishful thinking alert!

Blackburn has been a personal friend of Fred for decades. It’s no surprise that she would support him. It was a personal decision for her.

I wish Fred would just get into this race already. I don’t get this suspense thing he is doing. I don’t see any advantage in delaying his entry into the race. It’s just a waste of time.

[sageb1]

Pretty lady

http://blackburn.house.gov/

[restornu]

I like them both candidates so it should be interesting not boring..

And as far as congressman Marsha Blackburn switching allegiances from Mitt Romney to the undeclared candidate Fred Thompson, now that she knows for sure Thompson is running is the natural course of things would not exspect any thing different loyalty is a good thing!

[etradervic]

This is a non-story.

I heard that there are a few politicos in Massachusetts who are going to support Romney. I guess that must be devastating news for the Thompson Campaign. /s

[WOSG]

This way overstates it.

Actually, the main casualty that I see is John McCain.
McCain was once the ‘straight talker’ and Fred Thompson was once seen as a McCain-supportive type of senator and in the same conservative maverick.
Since then McCain has crossed so many swords and burned so many bridges with various conservatives, the very word “conservative Mccain” is an oxymoron. Instead McCain is reduced to fighting for the moderate vote with Rudy. Now the GOP electorate gets that old, more likeable style of maverick - in Fred Thompson - and not the new-mcain, the sellout and grumpy old man with a short fuse and a hankering for amnesty.

Two weeks ago I said Rudy was toast. Now I am adding to it McCain. Both Rudy and McCain have a ceiling and are close to hitting it. Romney hasn’t hit it yet.

This hurts Romney on the right flank for sure, but helps Romney in that the ‘inevitability factor’ for Rudy is no completely demolished, and its now a 4 way free-for-all. Romney is left with considerable momentum and organization.

LET THE BEST CANDIDATE WIN.

[WFTR]

I said early on that the first and quickest casualty of Fred Thompson getting in the race would be Romney. Kleinhheider's talking about in Tennessee, of course, not nationally, but I predict what happens to Romney's campaign in Tennessee will soon happen in other states.

If Fred Thompson had joined the race three months ago before Mr. Romney had a chance to build support and organization, I would have agreed that a Thompson candidacy would have knocked out the Romney candidacy. Now that Mr. Romney is doing well among primary voters, a Thompson candidacy is more likely to damage other candidates. Mr. McCain may be the real first casualty because Fred Thompson has always been a prominent McCain supporter and they would likely be drawing support from similar lists of big donors.

To the extent that Mr. Romney was starting to become the frontrunner over Mr. Giuliani and Mr. McCain, the entry of Mr. Thompson into the race means that someone else may rise to the top tier of candidates and become the eventual nominee. However, there's a huge difference between being the eventual second-place finisher and being the "first and quickest casualty." Both Mr. Thompson and Mr. Romney have considerable strengths and are excellent candidates. Either of them could do a very good job as president. I've voted for Mr. Thompson once already in a senate race, but I still lean towards Mr. Romney in this primary (if Duncan Hunter and Jim Gilmore are no longer a viable candidates). Mr. Thompson's supporters hate to hear this fact, but the presidency is an executive job. Mr. Romney has more executive experience, and that experience is one factor to consider when trying to decide between two good men.

Bill

[TheLion]

When is the last time a senator was elected president? I like Thompson, but he has a lot of votes to attack and has changed his positions over time also. To me, he represents more business as usual from DC. He is an insider.

Romney offers a fresh chance to make some changes.

[ClarenceThomasfan]

Fred needs to p*** or get off the pot. I am tired of him playing footsy with us. Either get in now or stay out. We don’t have time to wait for a “Mr. Wonderful” to come in and save the GOP. The primaries are a few months away. We have to concentrate on the candidates willing to stick their necks out now and be fully vetted before the general election.

[curiosity]

I seriously doubt Thomson is coming in. It's late in the game and he's an empty suit. With minimal executive experience, his only asset is name recognition, and this late in the game that matters little.

[Gondring]

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