Defections to Fred Thompson Pose a Major Threat to McCain

WASHINGTON POST ^ | Matthew Mosk

[kellynla]

John Dowd represented Sen. John McCain in his darkest hour, the "Keating Five" scandal. He supported McCain the first time he ran for president in 2000 and signed up to be a major fundraiser for him in this year's presidential race. But when former senator Fred D. Thompson began thinking about running, the Washington lawyer changed his mind.

For McCain (Ariz.), who started off as the favorite to win the Republican nomination but now trails former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani in most polls, Dowd's move signals yet another threat to his struggling campaign. As Thompson (Tenn.) builds his team of major fundraisers such as Dowd, the challenge for McCain will be to collect the millions of dollars necessary to maintain a nationwide campaign and convince Republicans that he is their best bet to retain the White House.

"I am very sorry to see what's happened to John," Dowd said in an interview. "I don't think his campaign is being well run. It's been over-managed. He blew through $8 1/2 million. It's a difficult thing to leave a friend and go to another friend. But we lost the John McCain I knew."

With the second-quarter deadline for reporting money raised only weeks away, Thompson's decision to become a candidate comes at a particularly bad time for McCain. After the initial fundraising results this year showed him behind former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Giuliani, McCain reorganized his fundraising staff and promised that the results would become apparent on June 30.

But now Thompson is aggressively pitching himself to conservatives uncomfortable with Giuliani, McCain and Romney, and hoping that he will be seen as a viable -- and fresh -- alternative to the current Republican field when he announces his candidacy early next month.

[Red Badger]

Defections?........Pretty soon it will be a flood as big as the Mexican tide across the Rio Grande...........

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Donate now!

http://www.imwithfred.com/

[mylife]

McCain poses a threat to McCain

[Spruce]

McCain reminds me of Butters on South Park.

[dirtboy]

Defections to Fred Thompson Pose a Major Threat to McCain

But ... but ... but many of the recently-departed Rudy boosters claimed Fred was nothing but a stalking horse for McCain. What gives?

[mnehring]

I think the Iowa straw poll standings show that Thompson is a threat to all the RINOs

[kromike]

McCain, with your signature Shamnesty Bill in smoking ruins, I’m dancing on your political grave.

[mnehring]

Butters? Na.. Mrs. Garrison..

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Who is there left to defect from "The Straight Jacket Express" at this point?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ah, but the strawberries. That’s where I had them...

[Shery]

There you go!

[mylife]

Nah...

He is more like Mephesto

[HEY4QDEMS]

Unless it’s a threat to fruity Rudy, it isn’t worth noting.

[garv]

I guess this should put to rest the “Thompson is a stalking horse for McCain” crapola that some of our recently relocated geniuses liked to espouse.

[Always Right]

More proof that it is just too late for Fred. He can’t get anyone to help because they are all committed to other candidates. He can’t raise enough money. He has no fire in his belly.

[PeterPrinciple]

Thompson is aggressively pitching himself...........
—
Huh?, anyone agree with this statement?

[kevkrom]

So much for the "Thompson is a 'stalking horse' for McCain" theory, which was laughable to begin with.

[kevkrom]

More proof that it is just too late for Fred. He can’t get anyone to help because they are all committed to other candidates. He can’t raise enough money. He has no fire in his belly.

I have it good authority that he once drove 56 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.

[mnehring]

You forgot the //sarc tag.