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.”
He’s 2 years older than Rudy, 5 years older than Mitt, and 6 years older than Hunter.
He’s also 6 years YOUNGER than McCain...so what does that leave us with?
Have you read the book that addresses Reagan’s diary?
Sort of like Fred?
I agree with you 100 percent. I will skip voting for the President if it is Guiliani. We will be vilified even here on FR but I am holding that promise and don’t care who blasts me. However, let’s hope that it does not come down to that.
Banned indefinitely.
Revealing look into the Reagan Presidency.
Reagan In His Own Hand is still my favorite.
Just so you all know... I’m not against Thompson. He just doesn’t seem energetic enough for me. He looks ‘older’ than all of them (except maybe he ties with McCain, whom I will excuse).
If Thompson were to really crank it up like he wants it, I would prefer him over Giuliani and possibly over anyone. I’m not against his ideas.
Just don’t treat those of us who desperately want to keep Hillary et.al. out of the White House, like people who would be interrupting your next crap.
Actually I am. Fred is younger than Reagan at the sametime in this game and Reagan did quite well...
I agree with your thoughts here.
I don’t know what else to do to get it through the thick heads of the powers that be in the R.P. As far as I am concerned the party is dead if it can’t get it’s act together and start representing the views of the Conservatives who have supported it.
Every phone call I get, every survey I get, I lay it on thick that they have driven into the ditch and better get back on track.
Right now I limit my comments to the border. When I get a call I tell them that they can call back after the fence is up and our borders enforced. Until then they don’t get a dime or a vote. That’s a little overboard, but that seems to be what it’s going to take.
Generally they get out a, “Yeah but...” before I hang up on them.
I want Hillary out too.
I’m just not convinced that Thompson’s not the best one to do it.
Rudy? Blech. I’ll vote for him in a pinch against Hillary, no doubt...but what do we get? A liberal who wants to kill terrorists. Sh*t, Joe Lieberman would do that.
It was my understanding that the book laid to rest the charge that he was medically unfit by the end of his second term. After reading it, do you differ with my thoughts on that?
He’s old, he’s tired, he’s inevitable. In the primary I’m voting for Hunter regardless, and then I’ll hold my nose and cast an unenthusiastic vote for whichever draft-dodger and/or adulterer the party nominates. The whole process reminds me more and more of 1976. The only silver lining to it is that there was a November 1980.
Fred is on his way up in the polls. He had a great week last week and his weekend interview with Pip Squeak, who tossed him hard questions, was top notch. I guess those who were hoping he was fading are going to have to start sniping at him again.
I think the only question regarding Tancredo is who he will endorse when he drops out. I’m surprised a guy who who was deemed too nervous for military service sees himself up to the job of CINC.
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.
***What has Fred done with a positive spotlight and name recognition? He has squandered what was once the lead on Intrade and lost ~30 points coming in behind McCain, Ron Paul and Huckabee. 30 Points! That is evidence that he’s a real lousy campaigner. Fred is also losing ground in the polls. In that same time period, Hunter has been slowly inching upward in the polls and now his contracts have started to move at Intrade. The market smells a bargain for Hunter’s futures contracts.
Hunter is the better man and now he’s emerging from Fred’s shadow as the better campaigner. Yesterday Hunter’s Ask Price doubled. His contracts have started to move after having been stagnant for many weeks. I attribute it to the “Smart Money” article that I wrote on Free Republic and copied over at the forum on Intrade.
Let me ask you a question.
If Hunter passes Thompson at Intrade, should Thompson supporters switch their support at that time? We needed to ask similar questions when Thompson was in the lead at Intrade and suggest that if he were to drop by more than 25 points, would they switch their support? No one did ask the question, but if they had, we would have gotten to hold those Freepers to their word. So now I’m asking what in a Thompson supporter’s mind is probably something out of the realm of possibility. If Hunter passes Thompson at Intrade, should Thompson supporters switch their support ? If you’re a Thompson supporter, will you give your support at that time? I’m just trying to bump Hunter up to 4 or 5% at Intrade, since he is at 4% in the polls. Thompson is at ~6%. So in your mind this is probably not possible but in the Hunter followers’ minds it is quite possible. It’s a yes or no question. Please, no hemming and hawing, no nonsense about how it’s such an impossible event that it’s not worth bothering over. Losing 29 points at Intrade was considered an impossible event when he had the lead, so please don’t pretend that one is possible and the other isn’t.
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Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts
Posted on 11/15/2007 3:43:17 AM PST by Kevmo
The ants go marching two by two—
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching two by two—
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching two by two,
the little one stops to tie his shoe
and they all go marching down,
to the ground,
to get out,
of the rain:
and to rescue Pissant.
So does that preclude divorce or just infiedelity. I ask because of your last statement about being widowed and your current being legit.
I am divorced not due to adultry but other issues. I never cheater before or during the divorce.
Sounds like Fred didn’t either.
Having said that. When most people get into their 70`s, old age starts catching up with their physical and mental capabilities. Reagan was hard of hearing, liked his afternoon naps, his jellybeans, liked a movie and loved to spend time with his wife. Sounds normal to me.
I didn’t believe them either, but there are times when it’s nice to know there is definitive proof of things you believe to be true. I believed Reagan was still in control until he left office, and it gripes me to see people claim otherwise as the poster did up this thread.
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