Posted on 11/19/2007 10:22:45 AM PST by Alter Kaker
Several House Republicans who endorsed Fred Thompson for president now say that they are frustrated with what they view as an apathetic campaign, and at least one regrets having committed to the former Tennessee senator.
“I think he’s kind of done a belly flop,” said an estranged Thompson backer who indicated he will not pull his public support before the “Super Tuesday” primaries. “We’ll just wait till after Feb. 5 because I think he’s going to get beat.”
The disaffected members of team Thompson say that he has failed to put to rest whispers that he is unwilling to campaign hard enough to win the presidency.
“He seems to be perpetuating it instead of defeating it,” another dissatisfied Thompson backer told CQ Politics. “I can’t see me bailing on him, but there’s some frustration.”
Political endorsements mean little in and of themselves. But actively engaged elected officials can use their own networks to help boost a presidential candidate’s chances in their district or state, according to political experts.
“It often times gives entrée to that person’s own fundraising network and to be able to tap into that person’s knowledge of how to win that particular geography,” said Susan A. MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa.
Some of Thompson’s endorsers say they aren’t lifting a finger.
“I’ve kind of pulled back. I’m not not supporting him, but I’m not doing anything,” said a third lawmaker.
What could be even more troubling for Thompson is what that lawmaker said GOP activists outside the capital Beltway are saying: “Now they’re calling me and saying ‘What’s he doing?’ It’s almost like he doesn’t want it.”
The disillusioned Thompson endorsers spoke in separate interviews with CQ Politics, all on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to damage him or themselves publicly. Two said they retain hope that he will turn it around.
One indicated that Thompson’s recent comments on abortion may have done him serious damage with some antiabortion activists. Thompson favors leaving the question of abortion to the states, and conservative columnist Robert D. Novak pilloried Thompson for a Meet the Press interview earlier this month in which Thompson said women who get abortions should not be made into criminals. Novak called the specter of legislation that would put abortion recipients, or their parents, in jail a “spurious issue raised by abortion-rights activists.”
Thompson’s staunchest supporters on Capitol Hill say his campaign is gathering steam. They note his recent endorsement by the National Right to Life Committee, which has the resources to spend heavily on Thompson’s behalf and the reach to activate grass-roots conservatives.
“I’m very confident in my support for his campaign and continue to believe he is the most consistent conservative in the race who can win both the primary and the general,” said Rep. Adam H. Putnam , R-Fla., who as chairman of the Republican Conference is the third-ranking member of the House GOP.
Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert , who remains a strong Thompson supporter, said the knock that Thompson is not campaigning hard enough is “a bit unfair.”
Nonetheless, MacManus said the wavering support from some of the House Republicans who have endorsed Thompson matters.
“At this point it’s significant because he’s trying to win a come-from-behind race and he needs every bit of support he can get,” she said.
After a long flirtation, Thompson officially launched his candidacy in early September, after the other Republican and Democratic contenders had been campaigning for months.
The late entry appears to have contributed to the loss of one possible endorsement in the House.
Rep. Nathan Deal , R-Ga., was once on the brink of declaring for Thompson but ultimately chose to keep his powder dry.
Deal said that, like others, Thompson waiting so long to get into the race disconcerted him.
“He really hasn’t caught fire,” said Deal, who has not committed to a candidate. Deal did not rule out the possibility of endorsing Thompson, or at least voting for him, later on. But he also said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee , who is outpolling Thompson in Iowa, might get his help. Huckabee and Thompson are in direct competition for social conservatives.
Rep. Zach Wamp , R-Tenn., who has organized support for Thompson on Capitol Hill, said his man is building momentum and is well-positioned at this point.
“He is still in the thick of this, and it’s wide open,” Wamp said. “In no way at all am I discouraged about anything.”
LOL
Bit more to it than that.
I was on the thread, too, and yes, there was.
Is the thread in isolation that big of a deal? No.
It was endless, first post, spamming of anti-Fred stuff, most of which people know to be false.
I think it’s easy to unfairly perceive criticism of a candidate as unfair if you support the candidate . . . if you can decode the last sentence . . .
I really don’t understand why you keep pushing this Intrade nonsense.
Fact is, Intrade is known to you and about 1,456 other voters in the USA.
IOW, not statistically relevant!
I know. “Unnamed sources” are a red flag.
Like the janitor : )
Fact is, Intrade is known to you and about 1,456 other voters in the USA. IOW, not statistically relevant!
***Prediction Markets have proven accurate than polling data.
The Efficacy Of Prediction Markets The Liberty Papers ^ | November 8, 2007 | Brad Warbiany http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1922961/posts
Posted on 11/08/2007 12:21:43 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Nothing personal, but I was referring to the validity of a persons word. If you have broken a sacred promise normally made in a church " 'til death do us part" it does bring your credibility into question. If you can't keep the most sacred of promises, how can we trust you with a campaign promise???? It all speaks to character.
IMO, it's not much different than FR polls and endorsements. The 4,000 or so members and lurkers who vote in the polls, argue vociferously on every thread about their candidate (or contentiously on every thread about an alternate candidate) are statistically irrelevant.
At times it's challenging not to get caught up in the heat of the moment. But, the reality is that whatever we post here isn't going to make a bit of difference at the end of the day.
Duncan Hunter is a good man.
And that still leaves us Giuliani, Romney, or Huckabee.
Only if they support Giuliani.
So everyone who has been divorced is suspect and not fit for office.
That’s what I am hearing, correct?
There was an article posted here Sunday that covered the Gallup poll and I am sure a search on FR will yield it.
LLS
There was an article posted here Sunday that covered the Gallup poll and I am sure a search on FR will yield it.
LLS
Not enough! All articles from CQ Politics should be banned, and anyone who attempts to post articles from CQ Politics should be banned for such scurrilous behavior!
Fred could lose a lot of support after Iowa if he shows poorly and Huckabee does very well.
Uh, thanks. :-)
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)
Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.)
Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.)
Rep. David Davis (R-Tenn.)
Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.)Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.)
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.)
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.)Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.)
Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.)
Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.)Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.)
Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.