Tancredo Scuttle (Tom Tancredo drops out tomorrow, endorsement up-in-the-air)

The Atlantic ^ | December 19, 2007 | Marc Ambinder

[2ndDivisionVet]

The scuttle is:

Rep. Tom Tancredo will drop out of the presidential race tomorrow and endorse either Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson.... neither of those candidates know who, just yet.

But the scuttle is probably wrong. Tancredo has been critical of all his opponents, and, given his issue's saliency, he does not need to endorse. His party sounds like him, now, on immigration.

[2ndDivisionVet]

So it begins... I think Marc meant "scuttlebutt" not "scuttle" or am I not privy to a new word?

[chopperman]

He should endorse the honest one - Hunter.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I like Congressman Hunter, but that would be wasting his endorsement.

[eastsider]

The grammar needs some work, too ...

... neither of those candidates know knows who, just yet.

[Fitzcarraldo]

"I like Congressman Hunter, but that would be wasting his endorsement."

If he endorses Hunter, then if Hunter loses, he can endorse someone else, and how would that be wasting his endorsement?

[JohnnyZ]

Tancredo's friend and fellow anti-illegal advocate Rep. Steve King endorsed Thompson.

Tancredo will likely do the same.

[SaxxonWoods]

He will endorse, but perhaps not right away.

[jaredt112]

I’d imagine Tancredo will endorse Thompson. Romney, I’d imagine, is a bit to soft on immigration for Tancredo’s liking.

[newgeezer]

Along with Hunter, Tancredo is THE actual "consistent conservative" (to steal Fred Thompson's catch phrase) in the race, and either one of them would be my first choice. I've been favoring Tancredo since Hunter's campaign seems to be more non-existent than even Tancredo's.

I managed to catch Fred Thompson in Cedar Rapids this morning. Even got to hear him explain his (continuing) belief in (most of) McCain-Feingold. I must admit, his justification was pretty good.

If Tancredo withdraws, Fred Thompson has my vote.

[ASA Vet]

How can you waste something of little or no value?

[samtheman]

Comments (1)

Hate to all Safire on you, but its scuttlebutt, which refers to a barrel of water that served on an 18th-century sea-going ship as both ballast and a source of fresh water for the crew. From which the term descends to a reference to a water fountain or water cooler, around which gossip may be exchanged.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I’ll vote for Thompson if Hunter becomes his running mate.

[bcsco]

A couple threads on this already...

Tancredo to get out?

Tancredo to make "major announcement" Thursday on GOP bid (dropping out?)

Bet's are on a concession announcement. No consensus on any endorsement.

[dakine]

Will he take the other one-percenters with him....?

[Yaelle]

Tancredo — I want to thank you for getting into the race. I helped you get there because we needed illegal immigration to stop being the elephant in the middle of the debate that no one mentioned. Thanks in part to you, it has been a very important part of the campaign.

Please throw your support to Thompson. I do not believe he will ever let you down. I am hoping and praying that if he is our nominee he will choose Hunter as his veep.

[MplsSteve]

Just thinking here...

He’s been in the race for so long now it seems only right for him to stick it out thru Iowa and New Hampshire.

Unless he’s doing it now so he can have some leverage in determining who’ll win both states.

[Red Badger]

TOM-TOM GONE.......We hardly knew ye..........

[BGHater]

‘His party sounds like him, now, on immigration.’

Whatever. I’ll believe it when I see. Post 08’ election, if the Repubs win, look for Amnesty round 2.

[newgeezer]

I’ll vote for Thompson if Hunter becomes his running mate.

Now that you mention it, as I sat listening to Thompson this morning, I remembered his health history and wondered who he would pick for veep.

[YellowRoseofTx]

I’ll vote for Thompson if Hunter becomes his running mate.

That is the ticket I want to see, or Thompson/Tancrado would work too