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Wife gives foot-dragger Fred Thompson a shove in White House race
The Sunday Times, UK edition ^ | 10/28/2007 | Sarah Baxter

Posted on 10/27/2007 7:13:01 PM PDT by dano1

In a startling admission, the wife of Fred Thompson, the Republican presidential contender, confessed last week that the “bone-crushing” pressure on candidates’ wives was like “walking down the street with no clothes on”. She was “terrified of embarrassing Fred”, she added. “It would break my heart.”

Jeri Thompson, 41, was attending a conference on women chaired by Maria Shriver, the wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, who quizzed her on her reputation. “I’ve read everything, from you are the campaign mastermind to you are the campaign strategist, you are the trophy wife, you are everything,” said Shriver. “Which is the right depiction of you?”

Thompson laughed and said she was focused on her children, aged four and one. “I’m not even qualified to do a lot of the other stuff,” she said modestly. Her sole demand, she said, had been for a changing table for nappies on the campaign bus.

It was a nice line, but about as likely as Hillary Clinton staying at home to bake cookies, Thompson insiders say. Jeri has been at the forefront of her husband’s campaign from the moment he was pressed to run. The problem is that she is regarded as keener on victory than he is.

Ronald Kessler, biographer of Laura Bush, the first lady, said: “[Jeri] is a political operative who is naturally more active than any of the other Republican wives. She is very highly respected in conservative circles, but there is a widespread feeling that she got her husband into this business. I don’t think he really wants the job. He seems to be treating it as a part-time effort, a nice way to pass the time of day.”

Behind the scenes, Thompson is playing a crucial role in shoring up support for her husband. She has been leading contacts with Christian conservative leaders, who view the 6ft 6in former senator for Tennessee and former Hollywood actor as the most likely mantle bearer for their pro-life, pro-family views.

It is Jeri, as much as Fred, who has been winning them over. While some Republicans have been wondering whether Jeri, a second wife who is 24 years younger than her husband, is too sexy for the women voters of Middle America, she is receiving a resounding vote of confidence from some of the country’s most influential evangelical leaders.

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, a prominent Christian conservative think tank, said he had spoken many times to Jeri as well as to Fred Thompson. He said it was unfair to describe her as a trophy wife: “She’s certainly a gain for him, but it’s not just because she’s attractive. She is smart and has very strong conservative credentials.”

Before marrying Thompson, Jeri worked for the Republican National Committee in Washington, gaining an impressive contacts book and knowledge of the hot-button conservative issues.

Richard Land, head of public policy for the Southern Baptists, said, “I know Jeri is a person of faith. To me, calling her a trophy wife is a lethal blend of sexism and ageism. It’s assumed that if a woman is attractive and younger than her husband she is a trophy wife. Jeri Thompson was a guest on national television talk shows before she even met Fred.”

Fred Thompson’s stock with evangelical Christians dipped recently after it emerged he did not attend church regularly and had once given legal advice to a pro-abortion group. His position on gay marriage, which leaves open the possibility that some states may permit it, has also disappointed social conservatives.

However, Gary Bauer, head of American Values, a pro-life group, said: “I don’t have any doubt, having met Senator Thompson and his wife, that they are both Christians. He’s got good positions on many of the issues Christians care about such as the right to life.” The ability of evangelical leaders to influence conservative voters is crucial to Thompson’s chances at a time when many of his own closest supporters are questioning his appetite for the presidency. After losing some of his most important campaign staff over the summer, there were new high level defections among staff and volunteers last week amid grumbling that Jeri was too hands on and Fred was too lackadaisical.

Although Thompson is still in second place in the polls, he is running 10 points behind Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, according to a poll of polls from RealClearPolitics.

Some conservatives who dropped John McCain for Thompson last summer, in the belief that McCain was too liberal on immigration and too old for the job, are now giving the former Vietnam war hero a second look.

The Arizona senator scored a direct hit on Clinton last week when he attacked her for seeking $1m to fund a museum in Woodstock, New York, site of the 1969 hippie festival. In a line that he has turned into a television commercial, he said, “I wasn’t there. I’m sure it was a cultural and pharmaceutical event. I was tied up at the time” – a reference to his years as a prisoner of war at the Hanoi Hilton.

Thompson supporters were shocked when Dan Hughes, the Tennessee senator’s enthusiastic front man in the key primary state of New Hampshire, switched sides last week and became vice-chairman of McCain’s state campaign. Against the advice of his staff, Thompson has barely bothered to show up in New Hampshire since launching his campaign on the Jay Leno television show last month, instead of appearing at a debate with the other Republican candidates in the state.

“I’m not going to be the token chairman of a token campaign. I was told they were going to run a vigorous campaign and they haven’t,” Hughes said. “Fred Thompson would have been a good candidate but he doesn’t want to go out and campaign.”

Thompson’s support slumped to just 7% in New Hampshire’s poll of polls last week. A drubbing on that scale in an early voting state could put an end to his hopes of winning any primary contests. Hughes said Thompson needed Jeri’s energy to be in with a chance of the White House. “I like Jeri. I wish she was running. We’d have a horse in the race then,” he said.

Jeri’s alleged micro-management has upset Thompson’s staff and advisers. Nelson Warfield, the media guru who produced the television commercial for Thompson’s launch, last week became the latest in a long line of consultants to resign.

According to Kessler, part of the reason was Jeri’s “meddling” and Thompson’s “lazy” approach to campaigning and fundraising. “It’s not the way to operate,” he said. “It’s going to make it very difficult for Thompson to attract high calibre staff now.”

One former staff member predicted that Thompson would be crushed by Clinton if he did not raise his game. “Hillary is tireless,” he said. “She doesn’t take anything for granted.” However determined Jeri is, she cannot win it for him.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; fredthompson; jerikehn; jerithompson; thompson
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To: mission9

“Now watch as his supporters trash you for posting this article, and me for giving an honest testimony.”

Been there.


101 posted on 10/28/2007 6:03:51 AM PDT by Saundra Duffy (Romney Rocks!!!)
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To: dano1

I like Fred, but he doesn’t seem to have the “fire in the belly” that is needed to inspire and get people excited about his candidacy.


102 posted on 10/28/2007 6:07:03 AM PDT by ought-six ("Give me liberty, or give me death!")
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To: mission9
"I can confirm the lack of enthusiasm on the part of Fred Thompson. I have seen him gut punch his own supporters in front of the entire RPOF by spending five minutes onstage when his supporters had laid out 100,000 for the right to be on that stage.

He has been the beneficiary of a campaign of Republican grassroots to draft him, he now enjoys a level of support which is unsupported by the facts. Fred’s appearances in Florida this last week have been the weakest showing of a candidate since Sam Brownback. As a Presidential candidate, Sam Brownback can sell out a Christian Fund-raiser weeks in advance. Fred cannot. This is a reluctant testimony that I give. I would love for Fred to be the great white hope. Now watch as his supporters trash you for posting this article, and me for giving an honest testimony."


In a nutshell and worth repeating. What irks me is knowing that, admittedly, some of those grassroots recruiters are right here at FR. And frankly, the fact that "the level of support which is unsupported by the facts" has, for me, made the promotion and rapid success of his campaign suspect. The blackout of Conservative Duncan Hunter by the media and his dismissal by FR 'conservatives'.... and the adamant justification of Fred, at, imo, any cost to conservatism.... is at the very least, troubling.
103 posted on 10/28/2007 6:23:22 AM PDT by Kimberly GG (Support Duncan Hunter in YOUR State....http://duncanhunter.meetup.com/1/)
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To: mission9
Thank You.

Actually it was your post about the Florida rally that got me to finally stop beating around the bush. I do not share the same candidate as you, but I see the charisma of Mitt and would proudly support him in the general election.

As for my disclosure, I have been an early Rudy supporter, because I truly think he can win. In 2008 I am looking for a leader that will keep me, my family, and my country safe. All other issues will take a back seat for me.

In the spring, I was really looking forward to Fred getting in the race. On paper, he was my ideal candidate. I agreed with almost everything he said, but reality sunk in when I saw the lack of passion that I really think will be needed to beat the Beast. Every one kept telling me to wait until he busted out, well that time never came. I thought that there must be something wrong with my perception, since everyone here was telling me over and over again how America would love him, and that he would demolish Hillary. I waited and waited, and waited. Still waiting.....

During that time I started watching Mitt, and he does impress me, but to tell the truth in the past few weeks I find myself leaning more and more towards McCain of all people (the flames will really come out now), I don't know if I am ready to switch my loyalties, but now I have 3 top contenders for my vote, and Fred keeps slipping further and further down the rung.

When I read your essay last week about his uninspiring (to put it lightly) campaign appearance, everything the MSM had written, and most importantly my gut feeling gelled, and I decided that I could know longer keep quiet. I hope since I have been very careful to keep it civil, and only write my feelings down without slamming anyone else that I will not be the latest casualty on Free Republic, which is becoming all Fred all the time.

104 posted on 10/28/2007 6:28:11 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: codercpc

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1917521/posts

More complete diary of the Fred shooting star candidacy here.

Not to be repetitive, but Mitt is the best hope for uniting the party. The NRA wing would be better served by cutting a deal with Mitt prior to a fractured election cycle that hands the nomination to the real gun grabber - Rudy.


105 posted on 10/28/2007 6:39:36 AM PDT by mission9 (Be a citizen worth living for, in a Nation worth dying for...)
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To: jellybean
Great picture!


106 posted on 10/28/2007 6:45:07 AM PDT by SheLion (I love Fred Thompson!!!)
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To: mission9
I would support McCain before I would vote for rootie or mitt. I will have to wear a gas mask to do it... but I would do it. I see your activism all over FR. I see you claim to be such an expert on what is in men’s hearts. You are a political activist for mitt... nothing more and nothing less. Your credibility goes no further than that.

I will not attend any event for mitt, rootie, dodd, biden or hildebeast. I despise ALL LIBERALS... I will NEVER support a liberal... I don’t care if he or she has an “R” beside their name or not. Give it up... millions of us will not roll over to grant your wishes.

LLS

107 posted on 10/28/2007 6:45:29 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims!)
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To: EYETRE

And you joined FR less than a week ago just to post this?


108 posted on 10/28/2007 6:45:48 AM PDT by Honeybunch ("Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." ~Rudyard Kipling)
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To: mission9
I do agree with your trepidation of Rudy (although he did say that even the blind should be able to own guns the other day, so he is moving in the right direction,LOL) and that would be the number one reason I would chose not to vote for him. As I said, I came into this election with an open mind, and I wanted to like Fred, it just hasn't happened. He is slipping further and further down the pike.

Rudy is just so strong on other things, and he has been the strongest against Hillary. Mitt is a close #2 in my book, with believe it or not, McCain climbing that ladder.

I am one of those "unprincipled" conservatives that will do anything to win, and whoever I feel has the best chance when it is my turn to vote in the primaries will get my vote, and McCain has been blowing everyone else away in the head to heads, so he has once again got my attention. Early in the 2000 primaries I was also backing McCain so this isn't a stretch for me, but during the past 8 years that support faded due to his attitude, but it is slowly coming back. We will see where that leads.

109 posted on 10/28/2007 6:49:13 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: ken21
Hi Ken21, the media is doing a great job of painting Fred as "lazy". Really, don't fall for it.

Either way, it's great to see we have so many choices in the primary as opposed to the socialist democrat party, who's idea of a primary is the coronation of their "dark queen" followed by some high-profile human sacrifices of the likes of Hussein Obama and "talk to my wife" Edwards...

110 posted on 10/28/2007 7:00:40 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: EYETRE
So far Fred has been a huge disappointment!

Welcome to FreeRepublic!

PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THE SILVERWARE...

111 posted on 10/28/2007 7:02:19 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: codercpc
Funny, McCain and Thompson have two opposite problems, McCain needs to romance the base, and Fred needs to romance the RINO, and independent voter. Each one, in his own way, is systemically incapable of doing either.

McCain, is an intensely compelling speaker, but his record is the turn-off. Fred is only a mildly interesting speaker, and so lacks the persuasive tools to get the job done.

112 posted on 10/28/2007 7:09:21 AM PDT by mission9 (Be a citizen worth living for, in a Nation worth dying for...)
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To: codercpc
Funny, McCain and Thompson have two opposite problems, McCain needs to romance the base, and Fred needs to romance the RINO, and independent voter. Each one, in his own way, is systemically incapable of doing either.

McCain, is an intensely compelling speaker, but his record is the turn-off. Fred is only a mildly interesting speaker, and so lacks the persuasive tools to get the job done.

113 posted on 10/28/2007 7:09:22 AM PDT by mission9 (Be a citizen worth living for, in a Nation worth dying for...)
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To: Caipirabob
The media is doing a great job of painting Fred as "lazy". Really, don't fall for it.

I am not going to use the word "lazy", but I will use unenthusiastic, uninspiring, unfulfilling. What proof have we seen yet of anything but? He claims to be doing it "his way" but don't you agree that we need at least the appearance of passion if we want to beat Hillary? We do need a little charisma, because whether you want to accept it or not, we do live in an "American Idol" world. And all of the passion in the world on the part of his supporters, doesn't change the fact that Fred is not lighting up the voters imagination.

A very conservative talk show host in Milwaukee, Charlie Sykes 620WTMJ, summed it up perfectly for me the other day when he said, Imagine the movie made about the making of the first female President. The man that they would cast in the role as who she would beat would be a very laid back, southern Conservative, and that man would be Fred.

114 posted on 10/28/2007 7:12:02 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: mission9
I don't even think that McCains record is as much as a turnoff as his attitude towards the GOP for the last 8 years. If I can get over that, he will be my pick.

I can see him as a strong competitor against Hillary, something I can not see Fred doing, so that is what is coloring my opinion. I do know for sure that if we could roll all of our top candidates together, and pick out the strong points of all, we would have a winner!!!! Why couldn't Haley Barber have run?

115 posted on 10/28/2007 7:18:04 AM PDT by codercpc
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To: SheLion


"We Ents don't say anything unless it is worth taking a looonnng tiiiime tooo saaaay."

116 posted on 10/28/2007 7:22:05 AM PDT by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: SuziQ

OH, Michelle Obama has been trashed. Try googling her for some amusement. ;^)


117 posted on 10/28/2007 7:30:18 AM PDT by tioga
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To: freekitty

I thought Maria was retired from the news biz.


118 posted on 10/28/2007 7:30:51 AM PDT by tioga
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To: codercpc
Come on strong against Hillary? Rick Lazio tried stepping towards her in a debate and it was his biggest misstep. He LOST! It will be tricky with the MSM securely stored in her purse for anyone to attack her - she plays the victim to perfection. I doubt it would take much for her staff to engineer a chance for McCain to show his legendary temper and throw the election her way right at the end.

On the other hand, does anyone think Fred would be anything but the perfect gentleman? Fred has the edge here in my book.

119 posted on 10/28/2007 7:35:43 AM PDT by tioga
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To: LibLieSlayer
This is the first time all year that Huckabee has surpassed Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts Governor slipped another point and he is now at just 11% nationally.”

Here's what the Iowa Electronic Markets are predicting:

RConv08
2008 US Republican National Convention Market

After having been the front-runner for the first month after he got his own contract in the market, Thompson is on a real slide over the last month. The recent blip in the Rest of Field contract is probably Huckabee.

DConv08
2008 US Democratic National Convention Market

Meanwhile, over in 'Rat-land, Her Thighness rides high, trouncing the Magic Negro and the Silky Pony.
120 posted on 10/28/2007 7:55:55 AM PDT by cynwoody
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