Despite a disappointing finish, Thompson doesn't bow out

Chicago Tribune ^ | Jan. 19, 2008 | William Douglas

[FocusNexus]

Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson didn't drop out of the Republican presidential field after his disappointing finish in Saturday's South Carolina primary -- but he sounded close to it.

About an hour after the polls closed, Thompson addressed a ballroom in a college student union, an event that featured as many students enjoying free beer as it did hardcore Thompson supporters. He delivered a lengthy soliloquy, speaking in the past tense about "clear conservatism," the cornerstone of his campaign.

"My friends, we will always be bound by a close bond because we have traveled a very special road together for a very special purpose," Thompson told the crowd. "It's never even been about me, it's never been about you. It's been about our country."

Thompson's campaign declined to say whether the speech was a concession, a swan song, a stump speech to signal that he's fighting on, or what. Campaign spokesmen wouldn't say what the former Tennessee senator's next move is.

"The campaign is still a campaign until it's not the campaign," said Rich Galen, a Thompson campaign senior adviser. "There's no hurry to make a decision, other than your deadline. I don't have anything to add -- not tonight."

Thompson conceded earlier Saturday that he needed a win in South Carolina to keep his presidential campaign alive.

[ImpBill]

At this point in my political leanings I would not be adverse to such a development. Although I sincerely doubt Fred will do that. And I appreciate that he wouldn't. He is a man of integrity and while many of us rank and file folks have left the GOP, and others thinking about it, Fred will not, and to be honest that is to his credit in this election cycle.

We can, and I will, if I make the polls in November, write his name in. It is the only principled choice I believe I have left after many years of voting in this Republic.

[M-cubed]

it will prolly never see the light of day...*sigh*

[Neu Pragmatist]

McPain is the right choice if conflict escalation throughout the M.E. is what you want .

There are certain factions that want accelerated U.S. hegemony and McPain is the one who will give it to them .

Do a bit of research if you truly want to know who supports McPain and why ....

Oh and please quit trolling me ....Thanks .

[Huck]

No, I read the whole post. So what do you think Reagan did? Think he stayed home? Or you think he voted?

[Jim Robinson]

FReeper support for FRed is as strong as ever:

Free Republic Opinion Poll: (1/19) After all the shifting polls, the debates, the campaigning, the media propaganda blitz, the early primaries, candidates dropping out, etc, are you staying with your first choice or going to another?

Composite Opinion
Staying with Thompson	55.7%		280
Going to Romney	12.3%		62
Staying with Romney	10.7%		54
Going to Thompson	8.7%		44
Staying with Giuliani	3.8%		19
Going to McCain	3.2%		16
Staying with McCain	2.0%		10
Going to Giuliani	1.4%		7
Staying with Huckabee	1.2%		6
Going to Huckabee	1.0%		5
	100.0%		503
Member Opinion
Staying with Thompson	57.7%		169
Going to Romney	13.0%		38
Staying with Romney	11.3%		33
Going to Thompson	9.6%		28
Staying with Giuliani	2.7%		8
Going to McCain	2.7%		8
Staying with McCain	1.0%		3
Staying with Huckabee	0.7%		2
Going to Giuliani	0.7%		2
Going to Huckabee	0.7%		2
	100.1%		293
Non-Member Opinion
Staying with Thompson	52.9%		111
Going to Romney	11.4%		24
Staying with Romney	10.0%		21
Going to Thompson	7.6%		16
Staying with Giuliani	5.2%		11
Going to McCain	3.8%		8
Staying with McCain	3.3%		7
Going to Giuliani	2.4%		5
Staying with Huckabee	1.9%		4
Going to Huckabee	1.4%		3
	99.9%		210

[ More Opinion Polls · Return to Forum ]

[County Agent Hank Kimball]

Fred ain’t running 3rd party. But there will be 3rd parties, and if McCain or Huckster is the nominee, I’ll be voting for one.

It really is time for a party that believes in free markets and closed borders, and opposes nanny-statism. We REALLY need someone to stand up to the environmentalists. Do you see that in man in our party?

Hank

[Steamburg]

Did you declare McPain’s campaign dead when he couldn’t even pay his staff? Me thinks its a long time until the convention and there are several closed primaries between now and then. A good ticket is still within reach. The fear the media has of Thompson is right under the surface and ripples in every article. Even if he drops out, I don’t see his support going to Huckster or McPain.

[Dead Dog]

Fox News is trying to report that Fred is going to quite in the next couple of days.....they are doing EVERYTHING they can to put a fork in him.

It was an open primary..Independents pushed McCain and Able over the top. McCain is going to crack ala Dean before this is over..better now then in November. Huckabee needed SC more than Thompson..50% evangelical turnout in SC and he still lossed.

Why are we talking Fred quiting when we are still talking Rudy?

Once Huckster and or McCain crack..Thompson wins.

Susan Estrich is talking McCain up right not..what does that tell you?

[Huck]

That’s pretty funny. I’ll bet there were a lot of hard core conservatives who stayed home in 76.

[ImpBill]

Could not have said it better, brother. I have sent both email and snail mail to the campaign begging them to stay the course and promising more financial contributions if they will.

It is Fred's choice to make. I will support his decision.

I also asked that if and when he might decide to end his run, that he do so without endorsing any of the remaining candidates.

But again, if he does endorse any of them that is his choice and I will not waiver in my support and admiration of Fred Dalton Thompson in any way.

And ... I will, if his name is not printed on the ballot in November, write him in.

[fieldmarshaldj]

What do we gain voting for a liberal RINO nominee ?

Nothing. Let the rodent party take the full credit for the $hitstorm mess they’re going to create with their horrific leftist policies. Maybe we’ll grow the hell up and start being Conservative again. We never will with liberal RINOs in charge. Never.

[Finny]

You'd vote for Donald Duck if he had an (R) behind his name..

Furthermore, the way the Democrat field is shaping up (I watch "fear of Hillary" voters with increasing scorn), we could nominate Donald Duck and win.

All the more reason to nominate a real honest-to-God Limited Govt. Real Thing Conservative Republican. Of the top five candidates, and the top four in SC, ONE guy and one alone is that.

His name is Fred Dalton Thompson. And he's a hell of a lot better than Donald Duck and the rest of the characters in the R line-up.

[ImpBill]

Nice thought, but Fred didn’t enter the race to be a Veep!

[fieldmarshaldj]

Maybe the fumes from the Jersey swamps are overwhelming you. Who won the 1976 general election ?

[snarkybob]

” But say McCain is the nominee by plurality. That could mean two thirds of Republicans never voted for him, and he’d be running to the center”

Maybe, but that’s in a primary. When Nov. gets here most Republicans will vote Republican. Fred running as a 3rd party candidate would flame out faster than he did as a Republican running for the GOP nomination. I hate to say it, but the Fred ride is over.

[Huck]

The old “lose on purpose” strategy. I simply don’t agree.

[Huck]

Jimmuh Carter. Who do you think Reagan voted for that year? Or do you think he stayed home? Why can’t you answer the question?

[Neu Pragmatist]

You’ve been talking Fred down for quite some time , so just exactly who is your RINO of choice ?

[Finny]

"Accepting" is one thing, aiding and abetting is quite another. I will not assist the hijacking of our party by the left. That's that.

Words of honesty. Standing up for the conservative IS defending our party.

Without conservatism, the "R" is meaningless. Empty. A house of cards.

[Huck]

What do we gain voting for a liberal RINO nominee ?

If it's McCain, we gain someone who unambiguously supports US victory and our enemy's defeat as a cornerstone of our foreign policy. Sounds like an obvious view, until you check out the DEMs. So just that alone makes a world of difference to me. I want someone who knows which flag to salute and which side of a war he/she is on.

If it's Romney, you get that, and also someone who is a talented executive, who will likely be far more conservative than the DEM party nominee.