May 18 was McCain's peak--also the day Shamnesty was announced.
Posted on 08/12/2007 6:52:14 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Tommy Thompson's campaign just released the following statement:
Thompson Thanks Supporters, Exits Presidential Race
Madison - Saying he has 'no regrets', Governor Tommy Thompson thanked his supporters Saturday night and officially left the campaign trail.
"I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country," said Thompson. "I have no regrets about running. I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as President, but I respect the decision of the voters. I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America."
Thompson, who was elected to serve four terms as Wisconsin Governor and four years as Secretary of Health and Human Services, began exploring a presidential bid last December. Weeks ago, he told supporters and the news media that if he did not do well in the Iowa Straw Poll, he would step aside and leave others to work for the Republican nomination.
"No candidate is more experienced than Governor Thompson and no candidate worked harder; but sometimes the dynamics just aren't there to bring about a victory," said Steve Grubbs, Senior Advisor to Thompson's campaign. "The Governor's staff was deeply committed to him and to his candidacy. If we could have willed a victory, we would have."
Thompson will return to the private sector as well as his non-profit work after a brief time off.
"I have very much enjoyed my years in public service and I am comforted by the fact that I think I made a difference for people during that time. I hope to continue working to serve others over the next few years," said Thompson.
PAID FOR BY TOMMY THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT
Here's the story from the Milwaukee Fox affiliate:
Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race for the presidency in 2008 Sunday. He spoke with FOX 6's Ted Perry about his decision to drop out.
Thompson told Perry, "I'm outta the race."
He says, "my campaign was completely shocked. We absolutely thought we were coming in second [at the Iowa Straw Poll]. We had no doubt in our minds. The worst we thought we'd come in was third and it didn't happen that way. Something happened between the 50-yard line and the goal line. They pulled a reverse on us and we didn't see it coming."
According to the story, Thompson has not yet decided to endorse any of his now former Republican running mates for president, but said he's already been approached by some campaigns about it.
BTTT (guffaws under breath)
;)
How did he poll? What results?
My guess is that the establishment told Tommy not to run because they were grooming Bush to run.
He didn’t dump enough money into it. Some blew the whole ball of wax on the Iowa poll and it wasn’t enough.
Now if only Ron Paul would disappear.
Breaking on CNN right now.
If he throws all his support to Ron Paul, Paul would manage to get up to 2.5%.
My bet is his support goes to Romney or Thompson.
He sorta reminded me of a circus ringmaster. He would make some borderline conservative statement and then strut for a few minutes. lol
Who is going to get his family’s votes??
He sure didn’t make much of an impact when he had a cabinet position and could have made a huge positive impression on the American people. He squandered that golden opportunity.
I’m more interested to see if he will actively campaign for the GOP in Wisconsin in the actual Presidential race. Wisconsin is the most likely state to flip our way in 2008.
lol
“my campaign was completely shocked. We absolutely thought we were coming in second [at the Iowa Straw Poll]. We had no doubt in our minds. The worst we thought we’d come in was third and it didn’t happen that way. Something happened between the 50-yard line and the goal line. They pulled a reverse on us and we didn’t see it coming.”
It is very very sad to see self-delusion this entrenched.
Weeks ago, he told supporters and the news media that if he did not do well in the Iowa Straw Poll, he would step aside and leave others to work for the Republican nomination.
He went in thinking he could do very well and blew his money on it. Others went in without thinking they would beat the big money and can stick around because they didn’t blow all they had.
Paul, like McVain, is toast. McVain poured gasoline all over himself and lit a match in March-May 2007. Paul would ordinarily never get more than 15% of the vote. his latest hipocracy ensures that he would never get more than 10%. He’s another DC skunk who should never be allowed to man the helm.
Whatever credibility he achieved as governor was blown as he soon as he blamed the first anthrax murder as the result of the guy drinking from a tainted stream on vacation. Real leadership, and real smart.
RIP: Tommy Turd-Water Thompson
I heard this news yesterday. LOL! CNN is surely on top of things....
Could he run for Senate and help us this way?
Nice guy, but one too many Thompson’s.
Given Florida chads and butterflies, it’s likely the two Thompson’s would’ve been taking each other’s votes.
sixth out of ten, I beleive.
I'm hoping this might be a certain someones cue to enter the fray.
It’s also time for Brownback to cash in his chips.
If I guy from Kansas can’t do any better in Iowa, then we’re just waiting for the echoes of the fat lady to fade away.
Doug, c’mon man. You’re better than that.
I meant that towarwds ALL
Are you referring to Thompson or Brownback?
Thompson was elected in 1986. He was unable to deliver the state in 1988, 1992, 1996, and 2000 when he was Governor. Nor was he able to deliver it as Secretary of HHS in 2004.
Granted, it was close in 2000 and 2004, but close is not enough. He should have ran for President in 1996. He would have made a strong candidate.
I think that says more about Paul, given how his "grassroots activists" outnumbered Tommy's about 10-1, were wiling to crawl over broken glass for him, and yet only managed to squeeze out a few hundred votes more. It doesn't matter though, if Paul had came in last place behind John Cox, he'd still be in the race.
Perhaps Ron should consider talking about issues GOP primary voters care about, like the FairTax, gun rights, border security, and overturning Roe v. Wade, instead of going off on rants all day repeating Democrat talking points on Iraq and saying people who disagree with him on Iraq deserve to be in prison (nice irony from Mr. Consitututionalist),
Nah, that would require him to reign in his ego and remain sane on the campaign trail. This isn't about Ron winning the Presidency, it's about him getting his face on TV.
Oh well, laugh all you want about Tommy losing out on the chance to be POTUS. At least he had a chance. Paul never did.
So first Gilmore, now Tommy.
Two less guys to take up Hunter’s time in the debates.
But Tommy himself was more conservative than Rudy or McCain. Shows just how far the RNC/GOP has drifted from its base.
3.5? Sorry. I recognize his strength in many conservative areas. Unfortunately, the issue most important for me is saving Western Civilization from the Islamofascists. I don’t want an apologist or someone who wants us to look at what we did to cause it. I want Winston Churchill and Gen. George Patton.
Didn’t we have SPECIFIC ASSURANCES that T.T. was the only one that could win the presidency?
I mean people on this thread
He gave a helluva speech at Ames, but there was never any chance he could win the General. Thus, he was never going to get the nomination.
I salute his grand effort to spotlight an Apollo program to fight cancer.
What part of my post at #25 is not respectful?
It was very disappointing to me that in his cabinet position he was lauding bureaucrats that he fought against as governor.
May 18 was McCain's peak--also the day Shamnesty was announced.
Hunter should be the next to bow out.
So now how many fools do we have who are introduced as Ladies and Gentlemen, the Next President of the United States?
I so agree.
He's not bowing out because of Iowa.
There's more integrity in the least Republican candidate then there is in all the Democrat candidates combined.
Yeah, Doug disappointed me, too.
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