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.
Fred has an important job to do still. He must keep the nomination far out of reach of Mike Huckabee. And he must bring the party together as the consensus conservative choice when no candidate comes up with enough delegates to win the nomination.
Keep on fighting Fred!
I sent a second contribution to Fred's campaign tonight. Whether or not Fred stays in the race... I got to put my money where my heart is.
I would not welcome such a development.
If Fred’s not steering the Ship of State, then the cabin boy must be.
I want the Captain at the wheel.
The campaign needs to retool. Got to figure out how to break Huck’s hold over the churches, and he’s going to have to enlist Giuliani and Romney as de facto allies. And everyone needs to pound McCain.
I agree.
In spite of what a lot of people around here think, I do believe that only McCain will be able to get enough independent and swing votes to BEAT HILLARY.
Huckabee sure as hell can't do it. Neither can Mitt and I'm not sure about Rudy.
The mere thought of Bill Clinton living in the White House again is disgusting and depressing.
Of course, if Obama beats Hillary, then it all over as no Republican will beat him. But at least Bill won't be in the White House again.
So what do you guys make of everyone saying Fred will drop out after Florida and endorse McCain? McCain!! Makes no sense whatever to me. Would he do that?
Corner square on Hollywood Squares?
It’s people like you who make my packages arrive late.
This campaign is going to come down to Romney and McCain, with conservatives going to Romney.
Ofcourse, Rudy could do well in Florida and reenergize his campaign, but that only hurt McCain since they go for the same voters.
Huckabee doesn't have the money nor organization to keep going.
Thompson will drop as well.
Conservatives need to focus on getting good congressmen into office to keep a check on the Presidency.
Remember it was Congress, not the President, which stopped the Amnesty bill.
Everyone is saying that?
More like the Red October media that has been trying to torpedo his campaign since he got in, fuel by *uckabee’s whisper campaign of dirty tricks.
lol! Not me, I go to extremes everyday to take care of my customers. Have been for thirty years next week. However, there are those who don’t cater to the customer as seriously as I do. Mostly newer and younger employees who don’t understand the value of satisfied customers. Those types really irritate me, too.
History is not a SIMPLE guide!
It must be interpreted as somethings changed in the world,in US society,and on the political stage.
Then many parameters have to be taken into account to understand correctly the teachings of History.
How many and what kind of candidates were there in the 2000 primary elections on the Republican side?....As an example
This was a primary where most people voting were either independents or evangelicals.
Just have patience, Fred’s time is about to come, now that we’re finally getting to closed primaries with only Republicans voting and where pastors don’t hold sway over the voters.
“The Vice President spot is still up for grabs and who could play the part better than an actor?”
Everything is STILL UP for GRABS! NOTHING HAS BEEN DECIDED!
Do the churches in the south have that kind of herd mentality?
I just heard that Fred won Nevada!
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