Posted on 12/29/2007 4:04:49 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
OTTUMWA — Fred Thompson’s campaign slogged through yet another winter storm to get to Ottumwa supporters on Friday. His reward was a packed room at Hotel Ottumwa.
The audience was younger than that for most campaign events. It helped that school is out for the winter break. And it helped that Thompson’s visit was in the middle of the day. That was part of what convinced Phil and Constance Cavanaugh to bring their three children.
Not that the Cavanaughs follow the school schedule. They home school the kids.
“It’s the timing of the event, and he’s my second choice,” Phil said. “This is government class today.”
The Cavanaughs illustrate just how fluid the race remains with less than a week to go. They support Mike Huckabee, who also scheduled an Ottumwa visit. But their support isn’t carved in stone. They still want to hear other candidates.
“We want to hear where he stands on some issues,” Constance said.
That kind of attitude is why Thompson and other candidates are blitzing Iowa in the campaign’s final days. Thompson trails in polls, but things can change fast. Everyone remembers Howard Dean’s stunning slide from the top position four years ago.
This year’s campaign was sliced by the holiday season. Candidates might have had a day off, but it’s solid campaigning since the day after Christmas. And it looks like it’s going to stay that way. Thompson said the peak of the caucus campaign is a natural match with the holiday season.
“I think the season and the politics kind of go hand in hand. Some people say that it’s unfortunate that things overlap. I don’t think it’s unfortunate. I think it’s the most natural thing in the world. It’s a time we think about what’s important,” he said.
Thompson repeated his campaign’s basic conservative stances during his comments. But he also took time to point out his record as a federal prosecutor who took on a president during Watergate and a Tennessee governor a few years later.
Thompson said it was too late for candidates to be coy about asking for support. He asked the audience to take a hard look at the candidates, ask what candidates’ beliefs are and whether those beliefs match their personal views.
Thompson said border security is both a national security issue and a fairness question for those who want to come to the U.S. legally.
“We need to be a nation of high fences and wide gates,” he said. “We’re a nation that processes about 1 million green cards per year. That’s more than we did in the early 1990s.”
Sanctuary cities don’t have a place in Thompson’s immigration policy. He said cities must enforce the law, not exempt themselves from it. He also blasted judges who don’t enforce the Constitution, but “make it up as they go along.”
International issues weighed on Thompson as well. He said Pakistan has become a very dangerous flashpoint with the death of Benazir Bhutto. The assassination illustrates radical Islam’s willingness to kill anyone who might work with the United States and might stand in their way.
He told the Courier in an interview after his speech that balancing Pakistan’s stability and pushing for a return to democratic government was made much more difficult by Bhutto’s assassination.
I love the name of that city. LOL
And Tom Arnold’s...
Thanks.
IOWA: VOTE FRED
http://www.fred08.com/NewsRoom/PressRelease.aspx?ID=2158ef49-4ed5-4e5c-a8b1-eae1d98728f9
Fred has a real understanding of whats going on in the real world. I think he would make a great CIC.
Has there been or will there ever be, a campaign slogan as good as that one? I don’t think so.
A Fred/Hillary matchup will be a sight to see based on the bumperstickers alone. I really think that even some who are leaning towards the beast will get on the Fred train just because it will be embarrassing for anyone except a complete moonbat to support the beast, and also because it will be a LOT more fun to support Fred.
Another Freeper abbreviation that I don't understand.
Commander-in-Cheif
Ping
I love this. Wouldn’t this be a great match up for the general election. Every car in the country should sport one of these bumper stickers.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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As a person who worked in advertising/promotion many years, I'd say 'yes."
First off = keep your Campaign slogans about YOU = no mention of another name. (Bash the others in speeches, etc. - but in the slogans, you want just ONE name to echo in people's heads.)
Then you need to tie your candidates name with what they stand for, what sets them apart from the crowd and why the country needs THEM over the rest.
You need to do this in as few words as possible...something that will easily fit on a bumper sticker with readability.
Here's MY campaign slogan for Fred:
@mt2007
When I say “good” I mean fun, not necessarily persuasive. Better Fred than Red will annoy liberals to no end, and it is virtually guaranteed the MSM will go wild with indignation with that bumpersticker so prevalent during the Fred v Hillary apocolypse.
“Frederalism” is the thinking person’s slogan. Persuavise to those who give it thought and buy into the concept. Given Huck’s rise founded on (I think anyway) his support for the HLA and FMA, it appears too many pubbies either reject it or don’t have the mental capacity to understand it.
I am waiting to see the look on their faces when FRED wins Iowa. The MSM will be like ducks in the water, paddeling very fast to catch up to the PEOPLE.
The MSM will not get away with making this choice for us...the PEOPLE will choose their President and I believe it should be FRED THOMPSON.
One can’t help but admire your enthusiasm. I’m just hoping for a good finish that allows Fred to compete.
That alone would make me happy.
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