Ed Morrissey, from captainsquarters.blogspot.com has a podcast with John Henke who did work on Fred’s campaign, and asks him what happened:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Ed-Morrissey-CPAC/2008/02/08/Feb-8-2008-1051AM
After taking a day to digest Fred’s decision I see a couple of things. First he did NOT do it before Super Tuesday- when it would might have done some real good- second- he waited til Romney dropped out.
I think it’s also telling that he didn’t hold a big press conference announcing his support- nor did he show up at CPAC as part of McCain’s entourage.
It seems to me Fred came to this reluctantly, but in the long run- he’s looking at the larger view of the Dems in the White House and what that would mean- what the impact will be.
I see many FReepers think Fred sold out by taking this step. IF he’d taken it a week or so back- I’d be inclined to agree. I think in reality that Fred and McCain have parted ways in many areas since Fred left Washington and has had the chance to live out here in the real world. IF he and McCain were so close on principle and policy- Fred wouldn’t have run.
While I sympathize with sentiments that would rather 4-8 years of Obama or Hillary than 4 years of the impossible candidate we seem to have gotten stuck with- I simply cannot support that idea right now. I’m not ready to say I will or won’t vote for McCain- 8 months is a long time..much can happen.
Fred loves our country. Given that- I think his statement is more of an indictment of Clinton and Obama than it is an endorsement of McCain.