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Fred Thompson may drop out, back McCain (Debunked Rumor)
The Politico ^ | January 2, 2008 | Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen

Posted on 01/03/2008 4:35:10 AM PST by rightwingintelligentsia

DES MOINES, Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.

Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.

This reality—combined with a fundraising drought—left well-connected friends and advisers of Thompson Wednesday evening predicting that he will pull the plug on hype and hope before the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary.

Thompson’s departure could shake up the race more than his continued presence. Friends and advisers said they have long considered it likely that if the lobbyist-actor is forced from the race he would endorse John McCain his former Senate colleague who lately has been staging a political revival in New Hampshire.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dirtytricks; fredthompson; ia2008; iowa; mccain; politico; threadnumber3
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To: TomGuy
> Lieberman was on the Kerry-Lieberman ticket in 04. <

Wow! I musta missed that one!

(I knew I was getting senile, but . . . .)

61 posted on 01/03/2008 5:29:21 AM PST by Hawthorn
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To: TomGuy

The Kerry-Lieberman ticket?


62 posted on 01/03/2008 5:29:25 AM PST by DodoDreamer
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To: TomGuy
Lieberman was on the Kerry-Lieberman ticket in 04.

I think I've had too much to drink. I thought you said Kerry-Lieberman.

Eek. You did!

63 posted on 01/03/2008 5:30:54 AM PST by MARTIAL MONK
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
> I am not sure if he will pull out and support Mc Cain before NH, but if Mc Cain is succcessful in NH and possibly Michigan, I think that somewhere down the line Thompson will pull the plug and back Mc Cain. <

Sounds about right to me. I second the motion.

64 posted on 01/03/2008 5:32:00 AM PST by Hawthorn
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To: mcjordansc
Should your “bet” be accurate, then let the coronation begin.

This story speaks volumes about who the other side is afraid of and has their finger prints all over it.

65 posted on 01/03/2008 5:33:25 AM PST by Rational Thought
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To: carton253

“He is not quitting.”

He’s running for VP


66 posted on 01/03/2008 5:33:45 AM PST by PurpleMan
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To: rhombus

You are absolutely correct. What I have been reading is that all the Republican candidates loathe Romney and if they can’t win it, they will do whatever they can to defeat Romney even if they have to hold their nose and endorse someone else.


67 posted on 01/03/2008 5:34:10 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: truthteller223

Fred on Fox now. He said the rumor was made up by another campaign. No truth to it at all, he says.


68 posted on 01/03/2008 5:34:34 AM PST by toomanygrasshoppers ("In technical terminology, he's a loon")
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To: rhombus

True - but at least Mitt pays lip service to conservatives. McCain spits on us.

If push comes to shove, Mitt MIGHT deliver on conservative values. It is 100% assured that McCain will fight conservatives every step of the way.


69 posted on 01/03/2008 5:35:07 AM PST by Mr Rogers (Huckabee - the Republican John Edwards)
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To: toomanygrasshoppers

I think I’ll agree with Fred on this for now.


70 posted on 01/03/2008 5:37:24 AM PST by Nextrush (NO WAY MCCAIN but I remain uncommitted.)
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To: Nextrush

Fred sounds good this morning. He’s still genuine and “just Fred”.


71 posted on 01/03/2008 5:38:24 AM PST by toomanygrasshoppers ("In technical terminology, he's a loon")
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To: bcsco
oh, I thought it might have something to do with this...
"Huckabee is not a conservative."
-El Rushbo (January 2, 2008)

72 posted on 01/03/2008 5:38:41 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Old Retired Army Guy
> What I have been reading is that all the Republican candidates loathe Romney and if they can’t win it, they will do whatever they can to defeat Romney even if they have to hold their nose and endorse someone else. <

Could be. But more likely IMO is that Fred will eventually endorse Capt. McQueeg simply because they have been good friends for years.

73 posted on 01/03/2008 5:41:23 AM PST by Hawthorn
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Dubious. Normally I’d take a look at rumors like this but this is the Politico and they’ve written utter claptrap about Fred before (remember that utterly false claim about him being broke?)

I doubt he drops out before South Carolina.


74 posted on 01/03/2008 5:43:05 AM PST by jmyrlefuller ("I am pretty much a compassionless jerk.")
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To: Kitanis
will the news, pundits, etc just let the #$@#$@# election happen? everyone is trying to predict the results..

They're not trying to predict the results they're trying to mold the results just as political polling doesn't reflect public opinion, it's part of an effort to shape opinion.

75 posted on 01/03/2008 5:45:49 AM PST by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Onerom99

Did you even read the article? The sources are within the Thompson campaign, and the reason is he is out of money.

Fred may finish third here, or he may drop to fourth behind McCain. There have been rumors swirling among Republican activists here for a couple of weeks that he and McCain have been talking about combining resources.

Fred is not surging here. He is, and has been, struggling. His FR supporters may not want to face the truth, but those are the facts.


76 posted on 01/03/2008 5:45:50 AM PST by bpop
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To: longtermmemmory

I listened to Rush yesterday and when a Huckabee supporter called in, I was surprised aat what Rush was saying. It sounded like he hadn’t done his homework and was repeating some of the old Romney talking points. Made me believe Rush really enjoyed his vacation and stayed away from the political news.


77 posted on 01/03/2008 5:47:41 AM PST by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: toomanygrasshoppers
Fred on Fox now. He said the rumor was made up by another campaign. No truth to it at all, he says.


78 posted on 01/03/2008 5:47:45 AM PST by McGruff (A "Big Time" Fred Thompson supporter!)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

One thing I don’t understand, whether this is true or not -and right now it looks doubtful. But even the discussion of him leaving the race is peculiar.

There were only two or three men that were right on ALL the issues (or at least 98% of them) and they were Thompson and Hunter.

Every other candidate, including the one I prefer, has flaws - some have DEEP flaws - and could be in trouble in the general because of a failure to unite all wings of the party, no matter what their priorities.

My question: Why in God’s name is Fred running so poorly in the polls? I just don’t understand it. I don’t think it’s because he got in late; I remember reading post after post here waiting for him to throw his hat in the ring.

What happened?


79 posted on 01/03/2008 5:48:10 AM PST by StatenIsland
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To: rightwingintelligentsia; Jim Robinson; moder_ator

It would be nice if the mods would edit the title of hit pieces like this as debunked when bonafide, sourced proof exists that they are, in fact, bullcrap.

FReerepubic is linked to by well over 5000 other blogs, websites, and newsfeeds. It’s scrapped by many, such as breitbart. The average Joe surfing by these sites sees only the headlines and the name FREEREPUBLIC, and it becomes a reality to them. A reality they, then, start repeating to others as fact.

Thank you.


80 posted on 01/03/2008 5:48:12 AM PST by papasmurf (I'm voting for FRed, even if I have to write him in.)
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