Posted on 01/19/2008 6:31:23 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
“I’ll be home washing my socks on election day.”
...and be watching Hillary’s victory speech?
I agree with you, sort of... It's like saying fresh dog crap is preferable to mouse vomit. How sick is this election going to be?
Time to fill up that pickup truck so college kids can drink more free beer!
“Mitt/Fred (Fred to keep Mitt on the straight and narrow).”
Maybe in terms of getting elected, but VP’s historically have exercised almost no power once they take office over executive policy. The current situation (Cheney) is certainly unprecedented in my lifetime, and in fact I cannot name the last VP who was so active. (Can anyone? I am stumped.)
What are you going to do if Fred drops out and endorses McCain?
I saw Mary Matalin, who is Fred’s campaign spokesperson, say they “love McCain”, when asked what the Fred Campaign thinks about McCain. Then, naturally, went on to say, that they think Fred would make a better president, but she kept praising McCain.
I don’t think there was cross over voting in SC. Too many Dems are fighting in the Uncivil War.
Fred lost to McCain allies who thought he got screwed in 2000 as well as Hucks Christian following.
I’ll bet that results will show McCain did well on the veteran and yankee rich coast and Huck did best in the heavily Christian upstate. I’ll bet Fred did well in the midlands.
You are cutting your own throat!
Whatever. All those speeches are the same. Anyway, I'm sure there'll be a 'Law and Order' rerun somewhere on cable.
Yep..Hunter out today, Thompson will be gone in 3 weeks tops.
I personally believe in the end, they are going to run Hillary against McCain...
We're screwed, but good IMO.
I definitely get the impression that Huck is squishier on nat’l defense/war than McCain. That’s the main thing I see. As for this election, it’s a different one, for sure. IMO, it’ll be far sicker if a DEM wins, although i think a lot of conservatives are going to be babies and stay home.
I’m with you. I voted Florida absentee ballot last week for Fred.
McPain will force Amnesty down our throats and he is also Warhungry .... Want more military conflicts ? McPain will get us there quickly without regard of the consequences ....
Don't mind him. He's really bitchy because he has to live in New Jersey.
Can you imagine?
In that case, I will stay home with little respect left for Thompson.
With Hunter out of the race, if Thompson drops out then Huckabee will probably own the social conservative vote from here on out.
Where else will they go?
To the philandering crossdresser, the governer who watched gay marraige happen in his state without lifting a finger, or the guy who made a career out of insulting them?
“My guess is he’s waiting to see how he fares in some closed primaries.”
My guess is he’s staying in to split the vote between himself and Huckabee and Romney so McCain can can advance. An endorsement of McCain wouldn’t make enough of an impact, conservatives would just ignore it, but staying in the race and sucking enough votes from the other frontrunners would be quite effective. Why else would he continue? If he couldn’t do better than 3rd in SC where he campaigned hard and stated that he had to do well, where can he think he’ll be competitive.
Boy, that's inspiring. I hear the sounds of checkbooks closing with a snap.
I think he just might,the country is at stake and Fred knows it,he has more truth and energy in one speech tonite than I seen by all the other candidates in one year,it’s a shame we have come to the level of blindness that we follow the principles and tactics of the clintons or we are not considered viable like the liars and liberals who are trying to persuade us to join them. Lets back Fred!
It’s still the best scenario (for me) I can come with.
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