Thompson Likely To Drop Out After South Carolina Loss
“I’ve always said I have to do very well here, there’s no question about that and I stand by that,” he said. “We’ll have to see what the results are tonight, and it won’t be too much longer.”
With his wife Jeri at his side, he said he was optimistic about his chances.
“It just feels wonderful,” he said. “We’ve been doing what we want to do, saying what we want to say the way we want to say it, and being who we are.”
When asked about the future, Thompson said he’d have to wait until after the primary. “My plans for Monday?” he said. “It depends on tonight. We’ll see.”
Chicago Tribune:
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Fred Dalton Thompson made the most important closing arguments of his political career Friday in an 11th-hour bid to convince voters he is the best choice to be president of the United States, not just play one on TV.
The verdict on what very well could be his final performance in this presidential race will come Saturday, as voters cast their ballots in South Carolina’s Republican first-in-the-South primary. The previews have not brought raves.
With his wife, Jeri, and two small children in tow, the veteran actor, lawyer and former U.S. senator from Tennessee — the candidate billed as the second coming of Ronald Reagan when he entered the race — vehemently emphasized his vision, consistency and clear conservative values to supporters at The Beacon restaurant in Spartanburg on Friday, telling them “That’s why we will win.”
As he recounted his firm beliefs in states’ rights, lower taxes, reducing the deficit, strong defense and a “100 percent pro-life” agenda, the audience of about 300 people answered him with a chorus of “Amens.”
But this political script for the 65-year-old Thompson, although decidedly yet unfinished, does not promise the happiest of endings.
Having turned in lackluster showings in the three early presidential contests — third place in the Iowa caucuses, sixth in the New Hampshire primary and fifth in the Michigan primary — Thompson has called the Palmetto State his “line in the sand.”
Current South Carolina polls show him trailing in fourth place, just behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, but both are far distant from the front-runners, Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
From hot to lukewarm
His campaign, in a race he has described as “a struggle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party,” failed to generate heat, sputtering here and elsewhere. Its seemingly laconic pace became fodder for late-night comics.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. When he first floated his candidacy last spring, many saw him as a charismatic Reaganesque figure with strong name recognition and sterling credentials to appeal to the social, economic and defense conservatives who formed the Reagan coalition.
Moreover, Thompson’s Alabama birth, Tennessee roots and baritone drawl promised to yield strong regional appeal in the crucial South.
By the time he formally announced his candidacy on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” on Sept. 5, 2007, the rest of his GOP rivals already were running hard. Comparing them to Thompson, some viewed him as having more of all the right pieces than any one of his competitors.
“There was a stage when South Carolina Republicans were looking for a moderate, a bridge builder, who could be as strong as McCain on defense and as vigorous as Romney on jobs and the economy, which just has recently become an issue, and a clear conservative who is, at least, no offense to social conservatives,” said Blease Graham, a political scientist at the University of South Carolina.
“Maybe he waited too long and the groundswell he expected didn’t materialize. You can come in to save the day, that’s certainly a logical strategy, like Reagan, but it didn’t turn out that way,” Graham said.
“We’ll see whether or not it was too late,” Thompson told a radio talk-show host Thursday.
Stealing his thunder
So, what happened? “In a word: Huckabee,” said David Woodard , a political scientist at Clemson University. He noted Thompson was either first or tied for first in Clemson’s Palmetto Poll in December while Huckabee was fifth or sixth.
But Huckabee, a Baptist minister, proved as folksy and funny as Thompson, who often projects a more dour aspect than fans of his role as Arthur Branch on “Law & Order” might expect.
For evangelicals, who make up more than half the GOP primary voters, Huckabee, who speaks frequently of his faith, also made an easier fit than Thompson, who has said he is less comfortable talking about it.
They have become frequent sparring partners in the race.
Thompson on Thursday lambasted Huckabee’s comments on CNN that the Constitution is a “living, breathing” document.
Rita McMakin, 46, a homemaker from Inman, S.C., wished Thompson talked like that sooner. “I think he just started fighting a little late,” she said. “We’re in a fight for the presidency, so I think he’s got to kick it up a notch. I think he knows that now.”
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I just wish he would have jumped into the race sooner.
January 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pmI’ve been in Fred’s camp since it was a meer rumour. I knew what the guy was all about, outside of Hollywood. He is an anomoly. An extremely grounded personality that, if he chose to, could be the character he portrayed on TV but instead, shed his celebrity status and bared his beliefs. A more steadfast defender of the Constitution you will not find. His tone is not that of the fast talking door to door salesman but that of a guy that anyone should feel comfortable around at a family reunion. He speaks what he feels. Out of all the “actors” that are trying to pitch a campaign to us, he is the one that isn’t acting. I find that all of the Republican candidates have something I agree with, but only one stands for everything I agree with…. Fred Thompson.
January 19th, 2008 at 1:11 pmThis is what they call, “unhelpful”. Everybody has been calling for Thompson to drop out for months now and people seem to love to post these stories that claim to know what Senator Thompson is thinking and always use headlines that misrepresent the facts.
January 19th, 2008 at 1:13 pmThis typifies the kind of “press” Senator Thompson has gotten throughout this campaign. “He’s already lost”, “He will drop out”, “He has no enthusiasm”.
January 19th, 2008 at 1:26 pmI’m more than a little disappointed to see that this headline was used here. Every reporter that seems to get any attention is under the impression that they know what the Senator is thinking and has a crystal ball with which to predict his impending downfall. Too many otherwise, sensible people have fallen for this “conventional wisdom” and continue to echo these predictions of certain defeat and it may end up becoming a self fulfilling prophecy but I don’t give up so easy.
I promised a friend, who is about to deploy to Afghanistan that I would do everything that I could to make sure that he came home to CiC Fred Thompson and I take that very, very seriously.
Fred is going on to Florida and super duper Tuesday …
When is Rudy dropping out, anybody seen him lately? I am in Florida, he isn’t down here either. McCain not here either, when does he go?
January 19th, 2008 at 1:32 pmI’m more than a little shocked that nobody, especially here, has seen the parallels with the headlines trumpeting America’s defeat in the WOT… Funny, that.
January 19th, 2008 at 1:38 pmIt would be very disappointing to see Fred not get the nomination. I wouldnt mind seeing a Thompson/Romney ticket in either position.
As for Guliani, i think he has done a piss poor job in this election. he seems to not even be trying anymore. the press has all but forgot about him. But we all know the media is run by liberals in this country and they do see the greatest threats and begin trying to tear them down as soon as they can
January 19th, 2008 at 2:00 pmTBinSTL I totally agree. For some odd reason the MSM has decided that Fred is not the guy they want in the race. As for the liberal press it makes sense because he would not follow the “let’s all be friends” demeanor that the Dems could weasel around. He speaks plain English and calls them as he sees them. He doesn’t feel the need to make nice or new friends from across the aisle. If you are looking for someone to slowly chip away at the conservative platform, any of the other candidates will do.
Ron Paul = Has a lot of great Libertarian ideas that fit into the Federalist mindset also a staunch defender of individual rights and freedoms but is a total isolationist and pie in the sky methodology would never get a consensus from either side of the aisle.
John McCain = American POW paid the price for freedom but McCain/Feingold (the leftiest of the lefties lib senator from Wisconsin)McCain/Kennedy (the bloated bootlegger’s son) bills that would steal freedom of political speech and reward illegal aliens leading to a bigger imigration crisis
Mike Huckabee = Re-affirm God as the basis for this Country’s foundation and is a huge threat to Rowe V Wade but Tax & Spendaholic while opening the floodgates…er borders.
Mitt Romney = Experienced CEO/knows economics inside and out but relative newcomer to complete Conservative Package, long term track record on some social issues an unknown.
Fred Thompson = Conservative top to bottom but talks slowly so everone can understand.
January 19th, 2008 at 2:06 pmWell said Gary.
Dittos on that Kurt.
Then there’s Paul topping Thompson again….hell, I don’t know…cue Twighlight Zone music.
January 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pmRP’s support is not that hard to understand when you consider that he has the “truther” vote sewed up. Fred has gotten no good attention in the media and will not do well in states where he can’t run his ground game style of campaigning. After he defies the MSM predictions in SC they will be forced to cover him.
January 19th, 2008 at 2:19 pmDanny will get to salute President Fred Thompson when he returns from Afghanistan, I will not let my friend down.
Sadly, but not totally unexpected, Duncan Hunter has ended his campaign.
January 19th, 2008 at 4:41 pmI have never in my life seen an electorate more fucked up than this one, and never a sadder pack of loser candidates. I can think of only three (all GOP) that seem suitable for public office, let alone POTUS.
January 19th, 2008 at 4:52 pmhis rumor did not come from Fred’s camp. Fred said no such thing nor did anyone in his campaign. I wonder where it came from then? The Chicago Tribune is Obama territory.
January 19th, 2008 at 5:20 pm