Posted on 01/20/2008 11:33:36 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
According to CNN's fancy map of South Carolina, Fred Thompson is sapping votes away from Mike Huckabee in the socially conservative north. If that's the case, Thompson probably has a smile on his face.
Thompson's distaste for Huckabee has been apparent throughout the campaign. Thompson often pushes back against Huckabee at debates and regularly sends emails critiquing Huckabee's stances on immigration and taxes. Persona-wise, Huckabee is everything Thompson isn't—charming, funny, and self-effacing. Most importantly, Huckabee possesses the start power that many Republicans hoped Thompson would have in the race. Huck is bizarro Fred.
Most importantly, Huckabee has stolen Thompson's base right out from under him. Thompson's from neighboring Tennessee, after all, so he was the guy supposed to be doing well in conservative South Carolina. Thompson was supposed to be the guy who grabbed the evangelical vote. Thompson was the guy people were supposed to coalesce around. Instead, the story became about Thompson's lassitude and Huckabee's quips.
Given all of this, it's not unreasonable to think that Thompson would stay in the race through Florida just to torment Huckabee. Despite a litany of shortcomings, Thompson still pulled in 15 percent in South Carolina tonight (with 72 percent precincts reporting), so he holds some sway. One would think he'd sap some of Huckabee's strength in Florida, as well. It may be Thompson's only chance to stay relevant.
In his speech tonight, Fred Thompson said his presidential campaign was never about him. He's right. Maybe it was always about Huck.
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
They just have to keep making up new ones as the old ones are proved to be untrue.
The liberal media won’t rest until they have driven the best man from the race. I, for one, pray they never rest.
Apparently they've seen a different Huckabee than I have.
The one I've seen is a smarmy, play-to-the-stupid-seats jackass who talks about his faith but doesn't seem to live it very well, who was for illegals before he was against them, and believes raising taxes is the same thing as being a tax cutter.
Now I see why Slate finds him charming...
“Chadwick” seems a too concerned about our primaries. Should Chad just worry about his own?
The only problem is that it also saps votes from Romney, who is the only one who can stop McCain or Giuliani.
I hope Thompson hates Huck enough to stay in long enough to prevent him from getting the nomination.
Blah blah blah...
He lost me when he called Huck charming, funny and self-effacing. Funny? yeah all his little burbs have been hysterical. And self-effacing? He has the biggest and most fragile ego of them all.
Senator McCain seems to be a Gore worshiper!
Which is why Huck is doing disgusting and slimy things like putting words in Fred’s mouth. Huck is desperate for Fred to drop out. The reason? Time is not his friend. Huck has nowhere to go but down. His base will soften as they start to figure out what he is really like. Those voters are not likely to go anywhere but to Fred... as long as Fred stays in.
Time may be Fred’s friend, as he consistently shows strongly as most Republicans “second choice” in conservative states. As the pack thins, he wins. The question is can we keep him alive?
This is NOT over. Support Fred Thompson! He needs it.
Go Fred!
Fred is the on candidate that can get over the brick wall we are fast approaching.
The only conservative still in the race.
It seems to me that when we start having to explain why someone who's not winning any races is still viable, it's over, you know what I mean?
LOL!
Well, someone tell Al Gore I am conserving by just re-using all my criticisms of Clinton for another shuckin' and jivin' Southern governor. I hope I don't need to recycle any Roger Clinton lines for Huckabee's sons, who don't believe in conserving anything that crosses their dinner plates, apparently.
The mission of the American news media in a presidential election year is:
1. Attack the Republican candidate while promoting the Democrat in the general election.
2. Sabotage the Republican primary by attacking any candidate formidable enough to beat the Democrat and promoting the least qualified candidates.
Mr. Wolf, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Fred maybe on thin ice, but the Huckster really sucks.
GO ON FRED!
If this was any kind of normal primary season I’d agree, but you are falling into the trap of believing what the MSM is allowing to be spewed out there.
Fred has more delegates than Giuliani who has NONE as of yet. That man was supposed to be the savior when this all started. The media keeps telling us “Oh, he will get some states just wait and see.” But what do they say about Fred? “He should pack it in.”
Those two views don’t reconcile. Add that to how fast Huckabee’s star rose and realise it can go down just as fast. Huck is really scared today because if Fred doesn’t leave right now he will lose voters to him. I could care less about hurting Huck specifically but it does mean that fred could get voters. If Huck crashes Fred could get another 10%. That would mean he could start winning states.
That would mean more time for insane-McCain to do something to show his true colors to all those voters who have short memories of his past antics.
I’m not ready to throw in the towel when McCain wins with 30 some-odd percent and everyone else breaks up the rest. That is no mandate and there are a whole lot of delegates left to fight for.
I understand the odds are not in his favor tonight. Which of these candidates have had the odds in their favor the whole time? Only one can win after all. You have to be IN THE RACE or you can’t win. And I don’t really want to be baited into defending why Fred should stay in, when there is no reason for him to be out.
Dead on, Brad. Apparently plenty of Republicans are stupid enough to let the ‘Rat press choose our nominee for us.
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