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Spiff, thanks for making the lack of a connection clear.

Sure, Romney won, but just wait until Fred actually ANNOUNCES, then he’ll clean up.
Oh, wait, he did announce. Never mind.

Many of us who are willing to support Thompson over Romney, McCain or Giuliani are grown-ups about it.

We don't pretend that Thompson will win Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Arizona or even Michigan.

Thompson starts with a strong base in the south, and is quite competitive in Florida, which had been a Giuliani stronghold.

I believe that Thompson will have a plurality of delegates after duper Tuesday, but by no means a majority. The later primaries may wind up meaning more than people think. I would have to be up more on the delegate rules in various states and the selection of "super-delegates" to have a better grip on it.

Those players with national name-recognition and fund-raising will be able to outlast a poor showing in Iowa or New Hampshire if they can point to a place where they can win early. Romney has Michigan (home state/legacy name); Giuliani should play well in the northeast, where the few remaining conservatives don't always know the rest of the country isn't like the northeast; Thompson can take South Carolina. It will be easy to portray Iowa as "bought and paid for" by Romney, and New Hampshire can be portrayed as supporting the local, as Clinton successfully did when MA Sen Tsongas beat him in 1992. Thompson winning SC won't hurt the other candidates, so Florida will be the first big test between Thompson and Giuliani. If Giuliani can't take Florida, he's through. Romney has support in the NE and possible upside potential in California. He should also do well in Moromon heavy states (Utah, Nevada and Idaho). These will NOT translate in meaningful numbers in the south or much of the midwest, in my opinion.

Many of us willing-to-support Thompson types do not think he is Ronaldus II, or is even a true "movement" conservative. We ARE afraid of the character of the party being deformed by a Giuliani-type. Personally, I will put up with his personal defects as I believe as president he can actually use his communication skills to pass stuff a GWB couldn't get through. I think Thompson would be less than RWR, but better than either Bush, and miles ahead of Bob Dole. Given wat's on the menu, I can live with him. In the general, I can even be enthusiastic.