Posted on 12/24/2007 9:25:38 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Decrease In Polls Not Deterring Former Senator's Campaign. Some presidential polls have former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson lagging behind in the final weeks before the primaries. His political advisors said he is getting ready for what could be the most critical weeks in his bid for the White House.
Thompson's campaign leaders said he has a strategic move to peak right before the Iowa caucuses next week. But some political observers said he has a lot of work in front of him.
Recent polls have shown Christian conservative Mike Huckabee leading the pack of Republicans, so Thompson must go after undecided voters, according to political scientist Bruce Oppenheimer.
"Given the number of people who have not made up their mind in Iowa, there could be a sudden move to a given candidate, the question is whether that will be Fred Thompson?" said Vanderbilt Political Scientist Bruce Oppenheimer.
Thompson's team said the campaign will make its biggest splash ever next week and it won't be by accident.
"It's been his strategy all along to peak at the right time. He didn't want to peak a month ago. These other people peaked a month or two ago and they're all falling down," said Thompson fundraiser Scooter Clippard.
The big question is: Can Thompson do it?
"It's not quite waiting for lightning to strike, but it's getting increasing close to that," said Oppenheimer.
A strong finish in Iowa isn't just about support in a single state. What happens there will determine the future of the presidential race.
"You will see after Iowa, and after New Hampshire and after South Carolina, some of the candidacies disappear. I think that's the real question. The whole nature of the game changes as a number of candidates reduce in the field," said Oppenheimer.
Thompson will also need a lot of money to stay in the race.
He doesn't have a big war chest compared to some of his other Republican candidates. However, Thompson's campaign managers said they've received strong Internet donations in addition to fundraisers.
The Iowa caucuses will be held on Jan. 3 for both the Republicans and Democrats.
The question everyone should be asking is...
How dumb is Iowa?!
If you don’t vote for Fred, you online IQ can be measured by counting piano keys.
I’m the county chair for Thompson where I live. I’ll be calling active GOP to try and get them to come to the caucus and support Thompson.
God Speed to ya, Fred. I hope it works, but color me skeptical.
Good luck, Fred. This Canadian is rooting for a Thompson/Hunter administration in 2008. It is so obvious that Huckabee is only where he is because he is a darling to the media class. And if I see one more friggin RuPaul poster (in Vancouver, B.C.) I am gonna gak. My guess is that Rush will throw his hat in with Fred within a few weeks, and the momentum will shift.
I get about 4 e-mails a week from Thompson’s camp and help when I can. A good show in Iowa is necessary.
He sings the right song, and has the right record for fiscal, defense, border and social conservatives.
NOBODY else has his full spectrum of conservative credentials...and the national recognition.
He's our last hope to keep the party united. I hope the folks in Iowa, NH and SC see that.
If not, the GOP is on it's way to "redefinition"...and a BIG LOSS. Sure, Rudy might win the White House...and lose the congress...Huck/Romney might lose the White House and help in the congress...but only Fred can unite the party.
*BUMP*
“My guess is that Rush will throw his hat in with Fred within a few weeks,”
There is a lot of pent up support for Fred that is waiting to see if they should make the leap or not. If he shows the promise next week, then I think that many people will be surprised by how much momentum he gains.
Rush for instance would like to push Fred, but only if Fred is ahead of him, Rush will not try to pull anyone.
I really agree with 2ndDivisionVet that the NRA is chomping at the bit to jump in. If Fred gets back into the top three, then things will happen.
Huckabee and Ron Paul are both financed by democrats.
Fred isn’t a fake anything. He’s exactly what you see.
And he’s not dragging a long chain of lies behind him like Slick Willard.
I simply doubt polls. I know I know. Polls are accurate. But come on.
Here are some recent polls and they are all ‘phone’ polls.
Are they landline? Cell? What? This is a huge factor I would think.
http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres08/iarep8-715.html
Sample Size: 600 completed telephone interviews among a random sample of likely Republican caucus goers living in Iowa (527 Republicans and 73 no party (independent) voters).
http://www.strategicvision.biz/political/iowa_poll_122107.htm
Below are the results of a three-day poll in the state of Iowa. Results are based on telephone interviews with 600 likely Republican cacus goers and 600 likely Democratic cacus goers, aged 18+, and conducted December 16-18, 2007. The margin of sampling error is ±4.5 percentage points for each party.
http://zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1395
The Zogby International telephone survey package included:
Iowa Republicans: 508 likely caucus–goers interviewed Nov. 29–Dec. 1, carrying a margin of error of +/– 4.4 percentage points.
Iowa Democrats: 514 likely caucus–goers interviewed Nov. 29–Dec. 1, carrying a margin of error of +/– 4.4 percentage points.
I dont know if things could break Thompsons way. I have been a DH supporter but finally have had to admit things are less than a wildfire in his camp here in Iowa.
So what do I do? Was leaning toward the pol Romney, even with his plastic sterotypical smooth talkin sugardaddy Im the tv persona President. Yeah he looks the part, but he is just too slippery for me. His recent comment about limiting some assault rifles or some such caused me to toss him over the transom. Mclame is out==just way to lefty as is his buddy Rooty. Im flumoxed—Thompson makes me gag on my first amend words. He does not like them. Face it—none of these guys are the complete package—I will mull it until Jan 3 and then finally make some sort of w a g for one of these less than optimum ego filled darlings.
Since you are in Iowa, what is your gut feeling about how the candidates are doing, how do you think the other voters are seeing them?
I have to ask you because I am living down here in Duncan Hunters district, a long way away.
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