With 4 or 5 weeks to go, can you imagine TT’s numbers going UP for any reason? Dinosaurs do not have a good electoral record, certainly not recently. Terry Branstad is the best counter example, but he was returning to the governorship, which is a different kind of race. Angus King is in good shape but he didn’t have to compete in a moonbat primary with Chellie Pingree or whoever; it’s doubtful they will check his pulse prior to the election.
Our best candidate would’ve been Paul Ryan, but the reason why he isn’t running is because he’d be giving up an important and powerful House committee chairmanship to be a backbencher in the Senate. Thompson should’ve run for this Senate seat in 1994 against Kohl when he was at the height of his popularity as Governor (end of his 2nd term) and he would’ve been wrapping up his 3rd term now (and probably retiring). His running now just makes no sense, especially when it’s pretty clear he is well past his prime. Even if he wins, he’s likely to be just a one-termer, and hence won’t be able to get much done (and making himself an instant lame duck), presuming he survives a single term given the rigors of DC. His younger brother Ed (a politico in his own right) died recently, if that is any indication.