Don’t really buy it about Romney. This wouldn’t help Romney at all, no reason to think that Fred’s supporters would go to Mitt. The most likely gain would be in the form of McCain. A Thompson drop could help McCain jump to 3rd in Iowa and help continue his comeback story and propel him into NH in good shape.
Frankly Shep spent half the interview with the Fred team asking if they leaked it themselves in order to get the media attention of saying “I’m in it”
I agree. But I think McCain, for all his policy shortcomings, is too principled to spread lies about a good man and a friend. Mitt Romney is not above that.