Mitt got the candidate, Fred gets the worker (Tancredo withdrawal)

The Politico ^ | December 21, 2007 | Jonathan Martin

[2ndDivisionVet]

Tom Tancredo may have gotten behind Mitt Romney yesterday, but the Tanc's top guy on the ground in Iowa will help out Fred.

A retired Marine and active farmer, Bill Salier had served as Tancredo's Iowa state chair. He's a true believing social conservative who ran an uphill race in the '02 GOP Senate primrary that raised some eyebrows.

In short: he's the sort of worker bee a campaign likes to have on its side. If Salier puts his shoulder to the wheel for Fred, he could be a major asset.

M.E. Sprengelmeyer of the Rocky did a great profile of Salier that sadly appears to be gone from the paper's website. If anybody can find a link, please send my way.

UPDATE: Fred's camp fishes out a link -- here tis

Also, they send along video of Salier with Fred today in western Iowa

Also, Also -- Rep. Steve King was on the stump out in his district with Fred today. If King can move some votes out in that part of the state, it could really impact what all parties think will be a low-turnout contest.

[2ndDivisionVet]

What does this tell us?

[ConorMacNessa]

I can’t believe that Tancredo endorsed the Mitt - to me he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

[cripplecreek]

Of the two, I think Fred is the one to gain from it. Tancredo voters aren’t likely to toss their ideals to vote for Romney.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

What does this tell us?

That Tancredo cares more about exploiting an issue than resolving it.

[glmjr]

Fred Thompson 

The Real Conservative

"When I am president, I will build a fence." Amnesty and illegal immigration are not healthy for the U.S. or Mexico. "We need to be a nation of high fences and wide gates."  ..Fred Thompson

"My idea of Gun Control is a good, steady aim."  ..Fred Thompson

  "Saddle Me Up"

 

[2ndDivisionVet]

FRED PING!!

[Pittsburgher]

“What does this tell us?”

It tells me Steve King’s support is the inflection point I have been waiting for. Serious, adult conservative support on the ground. Fred has engineered a surprise showing without looking calculating.

Tancredo’s staffers are lagniappe, and suggest maybe Tancredo might have some opportunistic tendencies.

[Free Vulcan]

The dual King/Salier endorsement is a big deal.

[Politicalmom]

PING!!

Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference

WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>What does this tell us?

Its tells me, that Tancredo should've backed out months ago. His endorsement of Romney is sickening.

With King backing Fred and Salier working for Fred, things might start shifting and a second place finish is not out of the question.

[Iowa Granny]

The dual King/Salier endorsement is a big deal.

Agreed. Now, all we need is the NRA endorsement, and things will really get interesting.

[Free Vulcan]

With a line like ‘gun control is a good, steady aim,’ I think that’d help!

Good speech at the CC meet, despite the nasty cold.

[ejonesie22]

Strong second, possible first when the dust settles.

It’s Fred we are talking about here folks. If he were doing really well in the polls I’d be nervous...

[glmjr]

Mike Huckabee Says He Doesn’t Recall If He Wrote Line About Bush ‘Bunker Mentality,’ After Rice Denounces Article

     Yeah,....Right...You convinced me.

       "Saddle Me Up"

[Eric Blair 2084]

[ellery]

So King and Salier are not just endorsing Thompson, but actually campaigning for Fred — fantastic!

Does anyone know whether Tanc is actively going around the state/country barnstorming for Romney?

Fascinating race. Great pick-up, Sen. Thompson!

[ejonesie22]

My, that is conveniently “Clintonian”...

[Mr Apple]

Fred in '08

[fieldmarshaldj]

It tells us this is a nice middle finger from Salier to Judas Tancredo. Good for him.

[lkco]

Cool poster. Ella Raines is from our town, and we just had a huge Ella Raines film festival here in the summer. My 14-year-old daughter was the most adorable usherette in that 1950’s get-up!

[LinnKeyes2000]

I got a robocall tonight from Tank saying please vote for Romney.
However, the way the Fred endorsements have been going, that bus tour is going to get crowded :)

[TheLion]

This tells us that we could probably find anyone in anyone’s camp that might support another candidate, but that doesn’t negate the tremendous endorsement of Tancredo.

[Bizhvywt]

“a second place finish is not out of the question (for Thomspon).”

It’s Christmas. Pray for a first place finish!

[ejonesie22]

No, but it does put it in perspective....

[TheLion]

I agree....and to Mitt’s advantage.

I’m sure that you could go over to National Review and find someone who backs someone else and didn’t like the endorsement. But that isn’t the point, now, is it.

[ejonesie22]

Maybe to his advantage, but that will not be known until the final bell. It does seem a bit contrived though, doesn’t it. Tanc best buddy in Iowa and his chairman go one way he goes the other.

I wonder who followed their principals and who had other interests...

[TheLion]

Tancredo is one of the most principled people we have in politics....to say otherwise is childish.

Get over it.... Tancredo gave the endorsement to Romney!

[ejonesie22]

Yes he did indeed give it to him....

[W04Man]

Fred's got his own hat on!

AND HE'S TALLER THAN DUKE!

FRED VETS, SIGN UP TODAY AT:

[W04Man]

How about this one?

[unspun]

What does this tell us?

Not much, when I think of a rhetoric contest between Fred Thompson and the very, very effective flim-flam of Barak Obama.

[unspun]

What does this tell us?

Not much, when I think of a rhetoric contest between Fred Thompson and the very, very effective flim-flam of Barak Obama.

[Josh Painter]

Just HAD to update my tag line for this one...