Thompson: "I Need to Come in Second"

CBS News ^ | Dec. 30, 2007 | John Bentley

[FocusNexus]

Saying he plans to make no changes to his campaign, Fred Thompson asserted today that he needs a strong finish in Iowa caucuses. "I need to come in second," he said.

While Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are both polling in the 27 to 28 percent range, Thompson is neck and neck with John McCain at around 11 percent. When asked if he would stay in the race if he finished third, he said "I'm not going to talk about things like that."

He did talk about the consistency of his presidential run. ..."But I'm going to be the same. It's worked for me pretty well in my career, being Fred, and I'm going to continue to be Fred."

[NormsRevenge]

FRed's reaction when told they were out of Hillary's Holiday Ale.

Republican presidential hopeful and former Tennessee
Sen. Fred Thompson speaks during a rally at the Olde
Main Brewing Company in Ames, Iowa, Sunday,
Dec. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[NittanyLion]

Based on this and an earlier quote that he doesn't really want the job methinks he is getting ready to bail.

I highly doubt he's bailing anytime before mid-February.

[Neu Pragmatist]

If Romney wins , we all lose ....

[NormsRevenge]

Republican presidential hopeful, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson,
speaks during a rally at the Olde Main Brewing Company in Ames, Iowa,
Sunday, Dec. 30, 2007. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[Kevmo]

I think he would support McCain, because they’ve been friends for a long time. When Tanc dropped, he surprised his followers. It looked like it was because Tanc wants to further his political career. My read on Fred is that if this doesn’t work for him, he’ll go back to Hollywood rather than politics.

Hunter has no such stake in the ground in Iowa. He could surprise us all.

.

.

.

.

According to Intrade, the winner of the December 12th GOP debate was... Duncan Hunter.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1938773/posts

Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts

In this poll Hunter is up 3% and even with Paul and Thompson.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3481ef60-8195-46a9-af04-b87b907bcfdd

[2ndDivisionVet]

"It seems Jeb and the rest of the family supports Mitt. P will support Mitt later of course. Bush’s love to win."

Or visa versa, when the Bush family gets firmly behind Fred, and Mitt can go back to hedge funds and illegal alien lawn mowers...

[bill1952]

The Bush family will never support a candidate who wants to secure the borders and is anti amnesty.

They deserted Katherine Harris like she was dirt for her position on that and they will do the same to Fred or Hunter.

Jeb is no different. If they are going to support Mitt then they already know that he will not push to seal the borders or eject illegals.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I will say NO to Romney in the General Election, too, if he gets the nomination...and there is a credible Conservative alternative on enough state ballots. No amount of rationalizing it later can make me come around to support a RINO this time out of fear of the Lib Dem.

Will you join me?

[linn37]

I have to correct myself...heres the poll Thompsons in third.

http://www.pennlive.com/ap/stories/index.ssf?/base/politics-12/1199032758215990.xml&storylist=topstories

[Neu Pragmatist]

I’ve always been one to oppose such moves, although I must say Romney is scary .
I think Romney is most likely to replicate the Klinton style of Governance , which I once though impossible .

I have not yet decided to sit it out , but am entertaining the idea for the first time ever .

[ChuckHam]

I will say NO to Romney in the General Election, too, if he gets the nomination...and there is a credible Conservative alternative on enough state ballots. No amount of rationalizing it later can make me come around to support a RINO this time out of fear of the Lib Dem. Will you join me?

I certainly will. I've NEVER thought of a third party vote in the past and my old profile page will certainly verify that if you look. In this case if Mitt or Rudy or Huck are the nominee then I will vote third party. I refuse to vote for liberals.

[snarkybob]

“Based on this and an earlier quote that he doesn’t really want the job methinks he is getting ready to bail. If so, who would he support? McCain?”

It’s only a guess, but my guess is that he would endorse McCain. Wonder what the FR opinion of him would be then.

[Hawthorn]

> Based on this and an earlier quote that he doesn’t really want the job methinks he is getting ready to bail. If so, who would he support? McCain? <

A McQueeg endorsement would seem logical since Fred was the Captain’s campaign manager in 2000, and since he was a co-sponsor of McQueeg’s campaign finance “reform” bill.

But logic doesn’t always work in such matters. For example, by what logic could have one predicted that Tancredo would withdraw so soon and then endorse Romney?

[CASchack]

He’s got my vote in NH, no matter what he decides.

[spectre]

Good!

sw

[NYC Republican]

Do us a favor. Stay in Tokyo

[papasmurf]

Perhaps a nice relaxing vacation would clear your thought process?

[melt]

"CBS wants the headline to give the impression of apathy on Freds part."

Yes. But he has to be more careful with his words, IMO.

CBS knows that the popular culture votes by sound bites. So the message they send is: "The extent of Freds ambition is to be an also-ran or runner-up... loser".

[NittanyLion]

I will say NO to Romney in the General Election, too, if he gets the nomination...and there is a credible Conservative alternative on enough state ballots. No amount of rationalizing it later can make me come around to support a RINO this time out of fear of the Lib Dem.

Not sure what I'll do, but I can hardly blame you for that...

[snippy_about_it]

His earlier comment was taken out of context. The entire comment was posted here on FR earlier.