Posted on 01/20/2008 2:27:30 AM PST by counterpunch
COLUMBIA, S.C.- John McCain was the winner of Saturday's South Carolina primary. Mike Huckabee came in second. Fred Thompson came in third, followed closely by Mitt Romney.
This is a victory that eluded McCain in 2000, and if history is a guide, may have set him on course to become the GOP presidential nominee. No Republican since 1980 has won the party's nod without a win in the first-in-the-South primary.
Saturday's primary loss was clearly a big disappointment for Fred Thompson, but you never would have picked up on that when you heard him speak to his supporters.
"Well, it may be a little early to declare victory, I am not sure," Thompson joked. "We told our folks to vote late, so they'll be trickling in I am sure."
So a lot of folks are now weighing in on Fred Thompson's political future. One political expert from Tennessee weighs in.
"I think he is through if he doesn't do well here, I think he has said so. Even a second place finish won't do," said Jackson Baker, Memphis Flyer.
"This is a gun show he just attended, if he can't get votes from this crowd, in this state which is probably the most conservative state in the union probably, then his message just probably won't play anywhere else," said Baker.
Thompson spent more time campaigning in South Carolina than anyone else. An army of Tennessee Volunteers also came through. They sent out a scripted message to undecided voters.
In South Carolina, apparently, Thompson's message did not catch on. Fred Thompson, however, was far from making any sort of statement about bowing out of the presidential race. Thompson returned home to Virginia Saturday night. His campaign most likely is regrouping, and gearing up for another big fight in the Florida Primary.
Well if they take your advice McCain and Huck will be Prez and VP, LOL!
I would likewise suggest that McCain, Huckabee, Guiliani, and Romney do the same if I were advising their campaigns. No need for any horse to drop out of the race in this muddy field.
Anything can happen.
Except for a single candidate to score 1191 as long as there are at least two others in the race.
Doubtful...I suspect that this week's polling data will show all of Rudy's rino supporters fleeing to the McPain camp.
I would agree with except alot of voting has already been going on.
Also, McCain has not faced a closed primary yet, so it will be interesting to see how he does without the 'independents' giving him the edge.
I do agree that unless Rudy pulls out a big win, he is done.
It was the American people who wrote their congressmen who in turn, responded by voting against the bill.
The House members and Senators who were coming up for reelection, did not want to face the voters wrath in November.
Great summarization of Thompson’s stands on important issues.
That is why the House is close to the people, being up for reelection every two years, so they do feel the heat.
Most of the Senate does not, not coming up for reelection.
The Senate is to slow down the passions of the House, and the House is to keep the Senate in check regarding the will of the people.
I've rarely contributed, too. This seemed like an opportunity to encourage Fred to keep on trucking beyond the SC primary.
Bull feathers, Nobody writes in on this issue, they called the offices and swamped the switchboards.The people are pissed about this nonsense and let it be known.
Are they also having a poll asking if Huckabee should drop out, or Edwards?
Yes, and the Congress responded to those calls.
If they hadn't the bill would have passed.
And the reason they did was because the House (who are all up for reelection) did not want to face the wrath of the voters.
So, the system worked exactly as it was suppose to.
Earlier post by you-
Had we not blistered their collective asses with phone calls and emails
Emails are 'writing in'.
But the issue wasn't how the people communicated their displeasure, but that they did.
And the politicans responded.
Thompson needs to hope that the writers strike ends soon so that he can get back to being on Law & Order. He’s truly done as a Presidential contender, and all of his loyal supporters can deny it all they want to with the same result being that Thompson eventually leaves the Presidential race. These are strange times politically in the U.S., and we will all truly be forced to soon see a capitalistic U.S. become a socialistic U.S. for the long-term! Deny this all you want at your own peril.
Well that’s how they’ve sold ever tax increase in history
Government: We want a tax increase.
People: Why?
Government: Just for the heck of it.
People: Oh, heck no.
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