For Thompson, a New Focus on Iowa

Washington Post ^ | 11/11/2007 | Mikael Shear

[Brices Crossroads]

Trailing badly in New Hampshire polls, former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson has decided to campaign "nonstop" in Iowa for the next three weeks, according to a senior adviser, leaving little time for the Granite State, where he has found almost no traction in his presidential bid.

Thompson advisers say they believe he might end up being the recipient of votes from Iowa voters who become disillusioned with the increasingly negative tone of the battle between Huckabee and Romney.Polling suggests Thompson might be the second choice for as many as 40 percent of Huckabee's voters.

[Brices Crossroads]

The key here is that Thompson is the second choice of a huge number of Huckabee supporters, perhaps 40%. A equally large number have not decided. As the voters begin to focus on Huckabee and his numerous problems with electability, they are very likely to look to Fred, having already dismissed Romney. The last 2 weeks are the key.

[Brices Crossroads]

Ping!

[bill1952]

Go Fred!

[Route66]

I think there is still vast opportunity for Fred in Iowa. People have not firmly settled on any candidate yet. It’s even worse this year than usual because we don’t have a VP running and the field is so big.

[trisham]

Go Fred!

[Brices Crossroads]

This article was actually written yesterday afternoon, December 11, 2007.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You may be right. Iowegians I’ve talked to have had a bellyfull of political grandstanding. Fred’s common sense talk might be attractive close to the Jan 3rd Hawk Cauc.

[counterpunch]

Perhaps Fred could have a new focus on his own record, particularly foreign policy, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation expertise. This is what GOP voters are waiting to hear about.

[Sacajaweau]

Thompson's campaign reminds me of the Bush campaign. We knew a lot about McCain early on. Then Bush came on the scene....and took it away. The debates at the very end made the big difference.

I like Thompson. If the vote were held today, he'd be my choice.

[Brices Crossroads]

The polls should be focusing on the default choice in the event the first choice falters. Even now, Huckabee is beginning to melt down with his comments on Mormonism, the commutations, waterboarding, Holiday Inn Express and the fact that the DNC cannot wait to run against him. Where are his voters going to go?

Just like the Dean voters eventually left Dean when they realized he was just a pipe dream, the Huck voters are eventually going to look in the mirror and say, “Nah...Can’t win and would carry the GOP off the cliff.” hen they will turn to the one candidate who is conservative, will unite the party and will crush the Dem nominee...Thompson.

[samtheman]

He needs to do this to pull his campaign out of the doldrums. He’s the only true conservative with a chance of winning. We need him to turn this around, and only he can do it. I predict that if he does start to pull his numbers back up to where they were and beyond, that some who have already endorsed Romney, like the National Review, might take back their endorsements.

[NavyCanDo]

I love Fred, and he has always been my first choice - but he has got to turn on the afterburners. The morning host of the conservative radio station KVI 570 in the Seattle area(he is a Big fan of Fred), has been trying to get Fred on his show for a long time. Fred seems not to be interested. This host is beginning to show his disappointment and thousands of Puget Sounders are listening.

[TLI]

The key here is that Thompson is the second choice of a huge number of Huckabee supporters, perhaps 40%.

There is also the 17% undecided. Given the way Mitt, Mike and Rooty are imploding, the 40% second choice and the 17% undecided that obviously have not fallen for the election hype, what Fred is doing, (staying positive) should hit a very good tone for the voters.

[counterpunch]

There is also the 17% undecided. Given the way Mitt, Mike and Rooty are imploding, the 40% second choice and the 17% undecided that obviously have not fallen for the election hype, what Fred is doing, (staying positive) should hit a very good tone for the voters.

My god man, you live in an alternate reality!
Fred and McCain are the only ones who have imploded!
And Fred went negative with his YouTube debate spot.
That's the "going negative" everyone will remember.

Fred's campaign has been so bad it should be tried on Law & Order for criminal negligence!
 

[Retired Greyhound]

I would hardly call Fred’s You Tube spot negative.

It was simply video clips of his opponents.

How is that negative?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I don’t know if Fred would gain much from an interview on a Seattle radio station. Last time I was there, (last Christmas)I couldn’t help but notice rows and rows of cars carrying John Kerry stickers...

[NavyCanDo]

In Seattle itself you are very much correct. Kerry got about a 86% of the Seattle votes, but outside the city there are hundreds of thousands of Republicans who are listeners to this radio station. Let me put it this way, As Liberal as Seattle is, the area has 2 Conservative talk Radio stations, both doing very well in ratings, and only one Liberal talk radio station which is struggling. Also take away Seattle, and Washington is very much a Red State

[counterpunch]

Whether or not you call it negative, Anderson Cooper labeled it negative, as did the rest of the media.
That lasting impression is what counts.

[basil]

ping!

[mo]

“....has been trying to get Fred on his show for a long time”

Have you emailed Fred’s campaign?

http://www.fred08.com/Contact/Contact.aspx