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What's Next For Thompson?
News Channel 5 ^ | Jan 19, 2008 | NewsChannel5.com

Posted on 01/20/2008 2:27:30 AM PST by counterpunch

COLUMBIA, S.C.- John McCain was the winner of Saturday's South Carolina primary. Mike Huckabee came in second. Fred Thompson came in third, followed closely by Mitt Romney.

This is a victory that eluded McCain in 2000, and if history is a guide, may have set him on course to become the GOP presidential nominee. No Republican since 1980 has won the party's nod without a win in the first-in-the-South primary.

Saturday's primary loss was clearly a big disappointment for Fred Thompson, but you never would have picked up on that when you heard him speak to his supporters.

"Well, it may be a little early to declare victory, I am not sure," Thompson joked. "We told our folks to vote late, so they'll be trickling in I am sure."

So a lot of folks are now weighing in on Fred Thompson's political future. One political expert from Tennessee weighs in.

"I think he is through if he doesn't do well here, I think he has said so. Even a second place finish won't do," said Jackson Baker, Memphis Flyer.

"This is a gun show he just attended, if he can't get votes from this crowd, in this state which is probably the most conservative state in the union probably, then his message just probably won't play anywhere else," said Baker.

Thompson spent more time campaigning in South Carolina than anyone else. An army of Tennessee Volunteers also came through. They sent out a scripted message to undecided voters.

In South Carolina, apparently, Thompson's message did not catch on. Fred Thompson, however, was far from making any sort of statement about bowing out of the presidential race. Thompson returned home to Virginia Saturday night. His campaign most likely is regrouping, and gearing up for another big fight in the Florida Primary.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fredthompson; sc2008
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To: calvo
I don’t know much about Fred but... Ya' lost me right there. An 8 year FReeper, and you don't know much about FRed? You vote for your guy, I'll vote for mine. Just remember, you'll get what you asked for. I know from experience.
121 posted on 01/20/2008 9:55:39 AM PST by papasmurf (I'm voting for FRed, even if I have to write him in.)
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To: skipper18
Is McCain really the “front runner”? Or is that just a MSM myth? Has he won more delegates than anyone else?
122 posted on 01/20/2008 9:58:31 AM PST by isrul
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To: Pining_4_TX

I’m willing to cut him some slack. I don’t want someone who is rabidly obsessed with the lust for power. I just want an honorable man who is willing to serve.


123 posted on 01/20/2008 10:03:05 AM PST by isrul
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To: Past Your Eyes
Do the churches in the south have that kind of herd mentality?

no, but utterly uninformed freepers get off thinking that

meanwhile does anyone even bother to ask if it was ok that Romney got probably 100% of the Mormon vote in Nevada?...and that they came out to vote 4 fold more so than non-Mormons?

is it bigoted for and herd mentality for Mormons to vote for their kind?

124 posted on 01/20/2008 10:03:22 AM PST by wardaddy (Hey toe sucker Dicker Morris...you schlub.....kiss my proud Dixie butt you beyatch)
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To: counterpunch
in this state which is probably the most conservative state in the union probably

Not anymore.

What an embarrasment. They were fooled by this white haired back stabber.

125 posted on 01/20/2008 10:06:18 AM PST by Regulator
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To: murron

I think he has 8.


126 posted on 01/20/2008 10:07:14 AM PST by samtheman
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To: alreadythere
Can’t really disagree with anything you said. Except, that although I could, reluctantly vote for Romney or Giuliani, I might not really bother.
127 posted on 01/20/2008 10:07:29 AM PST by isrul
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To: rhinohunter
I bet half the people in FL are transplanted New Yorkers. Giuliani will do Okay.
128 posted on 01/20/2008 10:15:20 AM PST by isrul
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To: calvo

Fred mismanaged his campaign just like he mismanaged the ChinaGate investigations. No surprises anywhere.


129 posted on 01/20/2008 10:15:42 AM PST by jimbo123
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To: reflecting

So what reward does Thompson get out of this.


130 posted on 01/20/2008 10:17:08 AM PST by isrul
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To: ought-six
" I do not believe a majority of the American people have become so suicidal. Oh, 40% have; but not 50.1% "

48% voted for John F'ing Kerry in 2004. I think that that number has increased since.

131 posted on 01/20/2008 10:18:58 AM PST by matthew fuller (Fred Thompson/ John Bolton 2008)
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To: counterpunch

It’s not true that Fred Thompson did not catch on. What is true is that he was catching on, and changing minds, just toward the end. If he had had more time and better campaign organization, I think his message would have made it across.

I think that his competitor was Huckabee in SC, and I do think that slowly people have been realizing that being noisily Christian is NOT an important point on the resume of a presidential candidate. And that just because someone is an avowed Christian does not preclude voters examining his OTHER characteristics and record. With a proper look at Huckabee, voters would have turned to the one true conservative in the race, Fred Thompson.

I am sad they didn’t.


132 posted on 01/20/2008 10:20:01 AM PST by Yaelle (If Fred loses it's our loss. Not his.)
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To: aj7360
Politics has always been about compromise.... not intolerance.

use of that politically correct code word is sad....."intolerance"......just shows how deep PC cuts in our culture that folks think having one's own stubborn views is now INTOLERANCE...lol

a better word would be ....Politics has always been about compromise not obstinacy or intransigence.

133 posted on 01/20/2008 10:21:44 AM PST by wardaddy (Hey toe sucker Dicker Morris...you schlub.....kiss my proud Dixie butt you beyatch)
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To: upsdriver

But do you have cute legs? That’s all that matters to me. :)


134 posted on 01/20/2008 10:22:45 AM PST by Yaelle (If Fred loses it's our loss. Not his.)
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To: enough_idiocy
Doesn’t matter. It’s no big deal. McCain is the front runner and he spent less. The point is what Romney has, be it spun as a tremendous lead or ignored by the media doesn’t mean much,at the moment, in this compressed and distorted primary process. Romney obviously thinks the cost is worth it, but he really isn’t running away with anything.
135 posted on 01/20/2008 10:24:42 AM PST by isrul
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To: samtheman
Fred should stay in even if he has no chance of winning. He should be a voice, and a group of bargaining delegates, at the convention.

Absolutely! This is key. And I hope he WOULD consider the Veep role. He's a lot younger than he looks.

136 posted on 01/20/2008 10:25:54 AM PST by Yaelle (If Fred loses it's our loss. Not his.)
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To: wardaddy

Everyone seems to vote for and support their own kind, blighted or otherwise, except conservatives.


137 posted on 01/20/2008 10:28:25 AM PST by isrul
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To: counterpunch

I’ll write in Fred if the Pubs don’t nominate him. Period.


138 posted on 01/20/2008 10:34:02 AM PST by Blue State Insurgent (Thompson Democrats)
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To: counterpunch

I agree.

Stay the course Fred!

This thing is not over!


139 posted on 01/20/2008 10:34:11 AM PST by SoConPubbie
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To: Route66

“At this time, according to the FR poll, over 60% of the 1700+ respondents, including members and nonmembers, are either staying with Thompson or moving TO Thompson.
This man has strong, loyal conservative support. The others only have a faction to try to ride and a ceiling beyond that because of baggage and high negatives. In the end, Fred will be the last man standing if we can keep him in the race.”

Drink the Kool Aid much?


140 posted on 01/20/2008 10:35:09 AM PST by snarkybob (')
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