Posted on 12/30/2007 3:14:08 PM PST by FocusNexus
Saying he plans to make no changes to his campaign, Fred Thompson asserted today that he needs a strong finish in Iowa caucuses. "I need to come in second," he said.
While Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are both polling in the 27 to 28 percent range, Thompson is neck and neck with John McCain at around 11 percent. When asked if he would stay in the race if he finished third, he said "I'm not going to talk about things like that."
He did talk about the consistency of his presidential run. ..."But I'm going to be the same. It's worked for me pretty well in my career, being Fred, and I'm going to continue to be Fred."
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
HE HAS COJONES.
Who seems to be getting all the support in Iowa, and who are all these people seen standing room only in Fred’s campaign stop videos?
Hear Hear Hank. I’m with you.
Before I’m a conservative, or a republican, I’m an AMERICAN and nothing will make me sit at home on election day. I will pull the lever AGAINST the D and remember the troops putting their backsides on the line and that their fate is in my hands. The thought of Hillary as CIC (or any of the Ds) raises the hair up on the back of my neck. I’m sickened that more Freepers haven’t considered them.
“I have not yet decided to sit it out , but am entertaining the idea for the first time ever “
Me, too - and six months ago I would have said the chances of that were 0%.
But the more I learn about each of these candidates, the less I like any of them (and I didn’t like any of them very much to begin with).
Perhaps the notion of having the Witch in office will be frightening enough for me to show up election day and vote for whoever has an “R” next to their name... but right now the only lever I want to pull is to flush all of these guys out of the race and demand another hand of candidates to choose from.
Obviously you don't like Fred either. Fred is one of the best conservative pubbie candidates to come along since Reagan. What do you want, eggs in your beer?
Lots of people show up to SEE candidates... cause we CAN and most dont ever get to meet one. But, that being said... McCain, Giulianni, even Paul will beat him on the ground. Just a plain old fact. He doesn’t have the MEANS to turn people out. It doesn’t matter a HOOT who polls what. Robertson, Buchanan and even Keyes didn’t show up in polls as high as they did caucus night. That’s what makes it fun.
Between this misstep and the “not interested in running” misstep, I really do wonder what bonehead is advising Thompson. I almost feel sorry for the old guy.
The "Republican voters" aren't really voting like a typical election is done, are they?
If I understand the principles behind the "caucus" system, it just gives you a general feeling for where the candidates rank.
IMHO, New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries will be more crucial to all those running.
No offense to Iowa.
Fox just had the latest Real Clear Politics poll, and it had Thompson at dead last out of five.
Stunning logic.
Fred is obviously signaling something he’s seeing via internal polling. Here’s hoping he’s right.
This sounds like the beginning of the end to me. I dont see why you would say that unless youre planning to drop out if you dont come in second, and I dont see much chance of that happening.
I think this means Fred is already thinking of dropping out and endorsing McCain for New Hampshire in hopes he can help him beat Romney.
I do not think he'd say all this today and drop out tomorrow. He could win Iowa if everyone saw this vid.
Remember this guy?
The fact that someone as ridiculous as Hillary Clinton could actually be a serious presidential candidate is plain proof that the pendulum has swung dangerously too far left in popular politics.
To me, government is the problem. Reagan thought government was the problem. The solution is less government. That's Republicanism, that's conservatism, in my book. When respect for limited government is observed, all the other issues become easier to navigate. Free and prosperous people do well -- America is proof. Shackled people cannot be prosperous or moral.
Giuliani or Romney have little core grasp of, let alone respect for, the concept of less government in market as well as social issues. They embrace the Liberal concept of big, benevolent government -- just maybe a little slower or different approach. The end result of their policies will still be to shackle and make immoral, just like Hillary's would do. But Hillary is a boogie-man. Boo! She is loathed and crazy. Just watch. In fact, this is a historic time when Republicans could nominate just about anybody and beat any one of the Democrat contenders. They are weak, frail, and shrill.
Giuliani and Romney are mixed bags of micromanagement techniques, all involving more clever use of government. They're left to the point of enabling Liberalism.
Thompson wants to know -- Should the government be doing this and if so, at what level? When I vote for Thompson, I'm voting for something.
To me, it's gotten to the point that Liberal Republicans might very possibly be the greater of the evils in the long run. You want me to vote for that??
I watched some of it, and I hate to say it, but it almost seems like a concession speech to me. Maybe thats just me though. But on top of the statement about him needing to come in second (which seems almost impossible), and with the link now on the Drudge Report which has him saying he doesnt really want to run for president, it just really seems to me like he’s sort of resigned to the fact that he’s not going to win. That doesnt mean a miracle cant happen, but I dont think he expects it.
Touch a little nerve there, eh? LOL
Who asked you? Was the question directed to you?
We need to heed Rush's words of wisdom and not get ahead of ourselves. The Big East MSM plays up Rudy & Mitt because they come there, are RINOs, and would love for either to win the nomination. McCain is in too because the MSM is McCain's biggest constituency and an MSM darling. Huckabee get tons of MSM press because the MSM knows that they could destroy him in a New York Second if he wins.
Duncan & Fred either are reported unfavorably or not at all because they are the true conservatives and the MSM is deathly afraid of either one of them should they win. We should be patient and wait for the caucii to play out the cards.
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