Posted on 04/01/2007 7:27:10 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson on Sunday joined the crowded field of Republicans running for the White House in 2008. "I am the reliable conservative," he asserted.
Thompson, who was health and human services secretary during President Bush's first term, also said he is the only GOP candidate who has helped assemble both a state and federal budget.
Since announcing last year he was forming a presidential exploratory committee to raise money and gauge support, Thompson has lagged behind better-known rivals.
Asked Sunday whether he was running for president, Thompson said, "That is correct."
Thompson, 65, has focused his strategy on Iowa, which holds the nation's first caucuses for presidential nominees. He has made weekly visits to the state and sought to make the case that it will take a candidate who can carry the Midwest to win the nomination.
"I'm telling you, things are starting to coalesce," Thompson said Sunday, despite his single-digit polling.
He said his Iraq strategy would be "tremendously" different from Bush's and said he opposed the Democratic approach in Congress to start withdrawing U.S. troops based on timelines.
At a recent news conference in Wisconsin, Thompson called himself "the dark horse candidate. I was a dark horse candidate for governor. I was a dark horse candidate when I ran for the Assembly. I am the underdog, and I don't mind that."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Run, Fred, Run!!!
Maybe he's just hoping people will confuse him with the other Thompson (Fred).
There will be confusion.
But Fred is still being coy and I expect that is wearing thin on his supporters.
There'll be more candidates at the debates than audience members if this keeps up.
Tommy baby, your name is not Fred...chill a little!
how many Thompsons are we allowed?
I doubt Tommy can get there from here, although I would find him preferrable to Jiuliani or McCain.
I think the other Thompson would have a better shot across the board if he were to take a run at it.
Look long and hard at Tommy Thompson's entire record- starting in Wisconsin. There's lots he did that wasn't conservative.
Tommy Thompson? Wasn't he secretary of whitehouse flower arrangments or something for a while?
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, left, addresses the crowd gathered at Kelly's Irish Pub in Davenport, Iowa, Saturday, March 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Louis Brems)
Oh, how can I contain my excitement? (/sarc needed?)
> April Fools joke?
"...
"I'm telling you, things are starting to coalesce,"
Thompson said Sunday, despite his single-digit polling.
He said his Iraq strategy would be "tremendously" different from Bush's and said he opposed the Democratic approach...
..."
Definitely.
The question is, does Tommy realize that?
Former Sen. Bob Dole, co-chair for the Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, faces reporters, Monday, March 26, 2007, in Miami after touring the U.S. Army Trauma Training Center at the Ryder Trauma Center, on the campus of the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)
Tommy said he was in the race some time ago
Thompson/Thompson L0L
BobDole would like to say that BobDole excercises each day, and then BobDole eats special K, with Strawberries on the top because that's the way BobDole likes it.
As soon as people find out that he wants to push injection of rfid chips under everybody's skin, he's finished.
Well, I guess the media just found out.
Perhaps I dreamt it L0L
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