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Bookies: Thompson Out, Rudy and Mitt Tops
The Street.com ^ | November 9, 2007 | Brett Arends

Posted on 11/10/2007 12:37:49 PM PST by Canticle_of_Deborah

Fred Thompson's campaign for president has collapsed.

Well, at least, among the bookies.

I've been giving readers regular updates on the betting in the presidential election, but absolutely nothing has been more dramatic this fall than Thompson's market meltdown. According to the betting at the Iowa Electronic Markets, the TV actor's chances of winning the GOP nomination have slumped in just six weeks from nearly 30% to less than 10%.

As recently as June, just after the former Senator announced he was running, he was the favorite in the betting, at nearly 40%.

The numbers are similar over at Dublin-based betting exchange InTrade. Thompson was at 35% in July. Today? 6%.

Credit the old Wall Street saw: Buy on the rumor, and sell on the news.

Before Thompson jumped into the race, conservative columnist George Will compared the anticipation to "Tulipmania." He questioned whether the Law & Order star really offered either the charisma, or the Mr. Conservative credentials, that his boosters claimed.

Maybe Thompson could never have matched the elevated expectations that greeted him. But his lackluster campaign and weak debate performances have brought him down to earth with a thump.

The betting now puts the Republican race between two people. The markets give Rudy Giuliani a 40% chance of winning the nomination, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney a 30% chance.

(Excerpt) Read more at thestreet.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; axisofdesperation; elections; familyvalues; fred; fredthompson; giuliani; mitt; mittromney; romney; romneysleazemachine; roodywins; stoprudy2008
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To: rebel_yell2

I guess I’m just plain stupid, but will somebody please explain to me why Fred isn’t trouncing these as***les? I mean, let’s get real, he’s the only real conservative in the pack. He should creaming these guys! Why anybody would support Rudy over Fred or Mitt over Fred or anybody over Fred just blows my mind ! He’s the real deal, for Chr**t sake. He should be ahead by 20 points. I’m just flabbergasted at the whole thing.

Huckfillary


41 posted on 11/10/2007 3:22:57 PM PST by huckfillary (qual tyo ta)
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To: Plutarch

:-D


42 posted on 11/10/2007 3:25:58 PM PST by redgirlinabluestate (Common sense conservatives UNITED behind Mitt 2 defeat Rudy and then Hillary)
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To: huckfillary

Fred wants to be pres, just doesnt want to run for pres?


43 posted on 11/10/2007 3:26:08 PM PST by isom35
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To: Blue Highway
More typical garbage, trying to put the nails in Fred’s coffin.

Glad to see that you are realistic enought to realize that Fred is already in the coffin and it only remains to fuss over nailing down the lid.

44 posted on 11/10/2007 3:27:25 PM PST by SergeiRachmaninov
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To: Plutarch
Oh, now Intrade is bogus. Show us your post dismissing the signicance of Intrade on this thread:

LOL! My my you are sensitive.

I couldn't find my post on that thread, do you have a link directly to it? If I did post no doubt, being a Fredhead, I was happy about it as I would be happy to have Fred up in this most recent intrade report. But I doubt seriously that I posted that I thought Intrade was a good indicator of the ultimate outcome of an election. If I did then you got me......touche'

And even if you just handed me a "gotcha" that says nothing about the ability of Ellery to spoil the fun of the anti-Freds, repeatedly and with great eloquence....bwhahahahahahahahaha!

Now Plutarch, how about showing me my post eh?

45 posted on 11/10/2007 3:32:51 PM PST by HerrBlucher (He's the coolest thing around, gonna shut HRC down, gonna turn it on, wind it up, blow em out, FDT!)
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To: freekitty
When election day is upon us, what will you do??? At that point only you can “dictate” who you vote for. We have to live with the candidates that we have and support who we think is the best candidate. Come election day I WILL vote R because I would never vote for Billary.
46 posted on 11/10/2007 3:42:32 PM PST by Lexi3130 (We need a proven business man to run this country NOT a politician!)
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To: Plutarch

There is a history behind that. The ONLY reason any of us were interested in Intrade was because some dingbat kept harassing us about it, and we got in our digs on him when Fred went up.


47 posted on 11/10/2007 3:43:45 PM PST by Politicalmom (Of the potential GOP front runners, FT has one of the better records on immigration.- NumbersUSA)
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To: Squidpup
I gotta get in on that action man - buyin FRED low and sellin high when he is inaugurated.

Fred shares would have been liquidated well before that, since the bet is who will win the nomination.

Still, I'm taking a strong long position on Fred, a weak long position on rest-of-field, neutral on Romney, and short on Giuliani and McCain. I don't think Fred is terribly likely to win, but I think he's got better than an 8% chance since there isn't any candidate who is unambiguously better.

48 posted on 11/10/2007 3:51:59 PM PST by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
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To: HerrBlucher

***crickets***


49 posted on 11/10/2007 3:55:24 PM PST by perfect_rovian_storm (John Cox 2008: Because Duncan Hunter just isn't obscure enough for me!)
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To: perfect_rovian_storm

Ahhh them Mittheads, just too easy....like shootin fish in a barrel....LOL!

We have the wit and wisdom of Ellery and they have the wit and wisdom of...well..er...hmmmm....well they have spunk anyway.


50 posted on 11/10/2007 3:57:47 PM PST by HerrBlucher (He's the coolest thing around, gonna shut HRC down, gonna turn it on, wind it up, blow em out, FDT!)
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To: Lexi3130

Don’t try to put a guilt trip on me whoever you are. I am trying my hardest to put a conservative on the ballot and you should too. If you vote rino you will be voting for Hillary too. And who says Hillary will be their nominee. A lot of people sure do listen to MSM; etc.


51 posted on 11/10/2007 3:58:28 PM PST by freekitty ((May the eagles long fly our beautiful and free American sky.))
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah
Bookies: Thompson Out, Rudy and Mitt Tops

Bookies deal in perceptions. That has nothing to do with whether a particular horse will actually win the race.
52 posted on 11/10/2007 3:59:54 PM PST by aruanan
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

it’s hard to be a conservative and not consider what markets are telling us...unless you are Huckabee.

Either Fred has to pull off something completely unexpected or Mitt has to make a major mistake. Otherwise nothing will happen for fred...and I think we may have to cut our losses soon if we have any hope against rude E

of course the other twist is that this could be a self fulfilling prophecy


53 posted on 11/10/2007 4:01:29 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
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To: HerrBlucher
Now Plutarch, how about showing me my post eh?

I checked, you didn't post on that thread. But Fredheads posted in their legions, woo hooing, Go Fred! spam, the whole deal. Yup, that's when Intrade was celebrated. Now, it is damn Intrade to hades. If Fred's contract should bounce back, once again it would be Intrade rocks!

Or to paraphase Shakespeare:

But Fredheads, proud Fredheads,
Seeing Fred lose a little authority,
Make such multiple explanations before Free Republic,
As would make Occam weep.

54 posted on 11/10/2007 4:09:35 PM PST by Plutarch
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To: newzjunkey
Indeed, the media and GOP establishment have decided it will be Rudy or Mitt on the GOP side.

Whenever our party annoints a candidate in such a manner we end up with candidates like Bob Dole or Arnold Shwarzenegger.

All indications are the results this time will be the same.Sad, the democrats have put up such a weak field, with a principled candidate it would be a cakewalk for us.

If Rudy is nominated we.will.lose.to.Hillary.

55 posted on 11/10/2007 4:12:59 PM PST by skeeter
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

The bookies know what’s what.


56 posted on 11/10/2007 4:12:59 PM PST by Palladin (Waterboard Patrick Leahy!)
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To: isom35
This was the same criticism of Gene McCarthy in '68. It was that he didn't have enough "fire in the belly" about becoming President. Frankly, I don't want the White House to go to someone whose every waking moment and calculation for decades has been how to get into that job.

That sort of thinking gave us Billyjeff Clinton, and has an outside chance of giving us Hillarybob Clinton. In the Federalist, Madison, Hamilton and Jay described the sort of person who should not become President. It was someone "with talents for intrigue and the little arts of popularity." How many of the candidates in the 2008 race fit that description?

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "Arianna's Political Garbage in My Inbox"

Here's my announcement of running for Congress in 2008.

57 posted on 11/10/2007 4:14:43 PM PST by Congressman Billybob (ONE DAY BOMB: www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Canticle_of_Deborah

Its a one man, one man questionable race. LOL


58 posted on 11/10/2007 4:15:20 PM PST by dforest (Duncan Hunter is the best hope we have on both fronts.)
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To: Congressman Billybob
This was the same criticism of Gene McCarthy in '68.

How'd that work out for Gene?

59 posted on 11/10/2007 4:20:16 PM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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To: indylindy

Which one’s which?


60 posted on 11/10/2007 4:21:02 PM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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