Fred Thompson played a major role in passing McCain’s CFR, Fred was McCain’s campaign co-chair, when McC was running against Bush, before Fred entered the race in 2007 he was doing fundraising for McCain.
Also see this:
Matalin; Race Debate on “Hannity & Colmes”
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/01/matalin_race_debate_on_hannity.html
SEAN HANNITY:...
Joining us now is Fred Thompson’s campaign adviser, Mary Matalin. Mary, always good to see you.
MARY MATALIN, THOMPSON CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Hey Sean.
...
HANNITY:.....Why does he seem only willing to attack or go after or challenge Mike Huckabee but not Senator McCain? Senator McCain is leading there?
MATALIN: No, of course, he’s been challenging — I wouldn’t call it attacking. He’s been challenging each of these candidates on their issues. And specifically relative to McCain, he said he disagreed with his immigration issue. Let me say this, Fred Thompson would not have gotten in the race if John McCain was scratching the conservative itch. You listed all the things that John has not been conservative on. I would add to that, it was a tipping point for a lot of conservatives, he’s now jumped on the pseudo-religious global warming bandwagon. That’s just madness.
But they are friends, and if they thought John would have been able to carry the banner that could unite the party to beat the liberals in the fall, he wouldn’t have jumped in the first place. “
MATALIN:.... “We all love John McCain. We just don’t think he’s the kind of conservative that can unite the party. “