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Politics Today: Thompson has tough fight to stay in contest
Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 1/7/8 | Blake Fontenay

Posted on 01/07/2008 12:12:29 PM PST by SmithL

Fred is not dead. But his campaign is hanging by a thread.

That pretty much sums up where Fred Thompson's bid for the White House stands.

Heading into last week's Iowa caucuses, many political observers were saying the former U.S. senator from Tennessee needed to at least finish third to remain in the hunt for the Republican nomination.

Thompson got that, narrowly beating out Sen. John McCain for the third-place spot by less than one percentage point.

That's the good news, such as it was. But the bad news is that attention has now shifted to Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where Thompson isn't expected to do particularly well.

According to data released Friday by the Zogby International polling firm, Thompson was running in sixth place there, behind the other four major Republican contenders and long-shot hopeful Ron Paul.

Thompson's not polling well in Michigan, either, which will be the next event on the primary calendar. That leaves him in a situation where he'll almost have to win the Jan. 19 South Carolina primary in order to last until Feb. 5, when more than 20 states, including Tennessee, will hold their primaries.

Winning South Carolina may be an even tougher task for Thompson than it seemed a week ago.

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


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fredthompson; nh2008; runfredrun
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To: SmithL

Since midnight last night, Fred has gain 218 friends on MySpace. That’s kinda a big deal.


21 posted on 01/07/2008 12:51:16 PM PST by rintense (Thompson / Hunter 2008!)
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To: Rick.Donaldson
I do NOT trust Huckabee for some reason. I don’t know why, but I don’t. One of those things you can’t “quite put your finger on”.

Could it be that he's as fake as it is asserted that Romney is? Granted, Romney comes off as easy as a three-sizes-too-big pair of plastic flip-flops, but Huckabee makes Eddie Haskell come off as an amature snow-job artist.

22 posted on 01/07/2008 12:53:54 PM PST by LowCountryJoe (Do class-warfare and disdain of laissez-faire have their places in today's GOP?)
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To: SmithL
The arab says Fred has no chance... but is polling above mcinsane in SC... second in delegates but Fred has no chance and mcinsane does. No sale... total BS on toast.

LLS

23 posted on 01/07/2008 12:54:54 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims and vote Fred!)
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To: ModelBreaker

‘Bout peed myself on that one!

LLS


24 posted on 01/07/2008 12:55:54 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims and vote Fred!)
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Comment #25 Removed by Moderator

To: SmithL

~snip~

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who finished first in Iowa’s Republican caucuses, is a fellow Southerner who espouses many of the same conservative principles that Thompson does.

~snip~

The only things Thompson and Huckabee share in common is they’re both running for the Republican nomination for president.


26 posted on 01/07/2008 12:58:54 PM PST by SE Mom (Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
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To: outofstyle

NH liberal beyond liberlism... NH means nothing in the Conservative world... beyond it’s paltry delegate count.

LLS


27 posted on 01/07/2008 12:59:10 PM PST by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims and vote Fred!)
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To: Greg F

Wyoming is fly over country to the msm. They don’t count in their minds.


28 posted on 01/07/2008 12:59:50 PM PST by Parley Baer
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To: LowCountryJoe

I never thought I would find a smoother flim-flam artist running in the Republican primary as Romney. Huckabee has proven that incorrect. Their styles may differ, but they are both “disguising” their past.


29 posted on 01/07/2008 1:01:07 PM PST by Ingtar (The LDS problem that Romney is facing is not his religion, but his recent Liberal Definitive Stands.)
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To: outofstyle
Bill Clinton finished a strong second in NH. If Fred does that, then "nuff said."

Please show the rest of us with the historical data from past elections how the pattern you state guarantees any of the candidates that they are either viable or will win the election.
30 posted on 01/07/2008 1:04:42 PM PST by SoConPubbie
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To: LowCountryJoe

I don’t know. Might be it. Over my life I’ve come to listen to that “inner voice” that says “DON’T DO THAT!”

When I meet someone or watch them for the first time speaking (either TV or in person) I can and do generally get a ‘feeling’ about them. I remember Bill Clinton giving me that ‘feeling’ when he was being interviewed on TV during the campaigns before he went on to beat Bush. There was a particular thing that caught my ear, about “Drug addicts”. I don’t remember the precise exchange but something he said sounded good at the time, like “he wasn’t for giving drug addicts help” - and I knew he was lying. Later I found out he was helping a brother who was a drug addict or something along those lines. Anyway, it’s been to many years to remember the exact details, but the VOICE said “He’s lying”.

I get the same thing about Huckabee and I know very little about his background or positions (I know MUCH more about Ron Paul for instance, and I’d not vote for him on a BET).

I like Hunter and Thompson and I’ve met Thompson once, long ago when he was much younger and I remember him as coming across as a real person, no fake, and very genuine. I can’t say that about the rest of them at all.

I have HEARD stories about Hillary from people inside the WH whom I know well, and she’s someone to avoid like a terrible disease. She’s bad for America. Period.

But, Huckabee comes across to me as not-so-genuine, and he may indeed be a liar, I don’t know that for sure, but he comes across as someone to NOT TRUST. Thus, I listen to the voice.


31 posted on 01/07/2008 1:04:55 PM PST by Rick.Donaldson (http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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To: Free Vulcan
Thompson needs to take Huck OUT, NOW. Huck’s voters are closest to Thompson’s on positions.

Interesting. I would regard Huckabee and Thompson as about as far apart as two candidates can be in the race (Hunter excluded). They agree on some social issues (although Huckabee appears to be a weak sister on school choice) but Thompson is a constitutional federalist. Huckabee shows no understanding of that idea. I lean to Thompson; but I lean strongly against Huckabee.

32 posted on 01/07/2008 1:06:22 PM PST by ModelBreaker
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To: roses of sharon

“FT need not dig deep for a dossier on Huck.
Huck is RUNNING straight out as an economic populist using liberal parlance.
He is RUNNING a campaign on CHANGING the Republican Party.
FT must REPEAT Huff’s platform where ever he goes, not get in the weeds about numbers.”

Like you said Huckabee is not hiding his message. He’s running as a change candidate within the GOP, and like it or not, he’s getting traction. So someone somewhere is impressed.


33 posted on 01/07/2008 1:08:09 PM PST by snarkybob (')
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To: ModelBreaker

I think most of Huck’s voters are suckered. Once he’s outed I think they’d head for Thompson v. Romney.


34 posted on 01/07/2008 1:09:40 PM PST by Free Vulcan (Hey Iowans: the only opinions that matter are the ones in the room voting January 3rd.)
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To: SmithL
Memphis should be the heart of Thompson country. I have seen one bumper sticker, and don’t know a single soul who is planning on voting for him in the primaries.

Fred Smith endorsed McCain very early, if that means anything.

35 posted on 01/07/2008 1:12:20 PM PST by Coldwater Creek
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To: ejonesie22

What have I been saying,,,,,,,,,,,


36 posted on 01/07/2008 1:14:33 PM PST by Coldwater Creek
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To: snarkybob
Exactly, like I have said for years, and years.

This board complains about big spending Republicans when they need to look at their fellow Americans who do not even behave as Americans anymore, and elect these men.

They are completely dependent on government, becoming wards of the State, literally and emotionally.

To change it, will take much grass-root work in the States, not calling DC and complaining.

37 posted on 01/07/2008 1:15:44 PM PST by roses of sharon
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To: Free Vulcan
Forget it! It isn’t going to happen!

Fred doesn’t want it as bad as Huckabee.

38 posted on 01/07/2008 1:16:15 PM PST by Coldwater Creek
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To: Coldwater Creek

I think the more someone “wants to be President” the LESS we should want to vote for them. Washington was PRESSED to the position.

Thompson had to be begged by literally thousands of us to “join up”.

He’s the man.


39 posted on 01/07/2008 1:21:35 PM PST by Rick.Donaldson (http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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To: SmithL

Fred’s wife wants him to be President, I’m not so sure Fred does.


40 posted on 01/07/2008 1:24:03 PM PST by HisKingdomWillAbolishSinDeath (Christ's Kingdom on Earth is the answer. What is your question?)
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