Fred Heads Do Not Give Up

Posted by johnhouk on Jan 20, 2008
 John R. Houk
© January 20, 2008

My Man Fred came in a disappointing third place in South Carolina. Apparently Huck believes Fred was a spoiler for his campaign in South Carolina and would have won over McCain if Fred was not there.

For me it boggles my mind that my fellow Christian Right voters are falling for Huckabee instead of Thompson. Thompson has the proven record of the most consistent Conservative fiscally and socially of the Candidates that have a real shot in the competition for the nomination.

Apparently Huckabee’s ministerial ordination credentials and home spun ability to connect with voters is of more value than a consistent Conservative track record.

Officially Fred has not thrown in the towel after counting so much on South Carolina; however a rather dour speech that sounded like “Thanks for the Memories” provides the appearance Fred is thinking of withdrawing.

I doubt Fred will gain any traction in the touted Florida Primary coming up; however I pray Fred stays in through Super Tuesday. If Fred can lose the dourness and show the fire he had in the last few debates, Super Tuesday may prove good for Fred even if he is not the majority winner. If the Republican Convention has no clear winner of delegates, then the bargaining begins in extra ballots at the Convention. Something I have never seen in my life time, but it has happened.

So my man Fred, stiffen that back and get tough and stick it out. A Convention that decides on multiple ballots does not mean the candidate with the most delegates after the first ballot is the automatic winner. A Candidate must win a minimum of 1191 delegates to be declared the winner of the Presidential nomination. If that doesn’t happen on the first ballot, the back room deals and political wrangling to come up with magic number occurs.

Thus even a third or fourth place finish for Fred may be seen as the logical compromise choice with his consistent Conservativism.

JRH
**********************
Thompson falls short, but stays in race
Ex-senator sounds close to dropping out after disappointing finish

WILLIAM DOUGLAS
McClatchy Newspapers
The Charlotte Observer
Posted on Sun, Jan. 20, 2008

`WE WILL ALWAYS BE BOUND BY A CLOSE BOND'


COLUMBIA -- Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson didn't drop out of the Republican presidential field after his disappointing finish in Saturday's S.C. primary -- but he sounded close to it.

About an hour after the polls closed, Thompson addressed a ballroom inside a student union at the University of South Carolina -- filled with as many students enjoying free beer as hardcore Thompson supporters. He delivered a lengthy soliloquy, speaking in the past tense about "clear conservatism," the cornerstone of his campaign.

"My friends, we will always be bound by a close bond because we have traveled a very special road together for a very special purpose," Thompson told the crowd. "It's never been about me, it's never even been about you. It's been about our country."

Thompson's campaign declined to say whether the speech was a concession, a swan song, a stump speech or what.

"The campaign is still a campaign until it's not the campaign. There's no hurry to make a decision, other than your deadline," said Rich Galen, a Thompson campaign senior adviser. "I don't have anything to add -- not tonight."

Thompson conceded earlier Saturday that he needed a win in South Carolina to keep his presidential campaign alive.

"I've always said that I have to do very well here, there's no question about that, and I stand by that," he said.

Thompson entered the Republican presidential sweepstakes in September as the traditionalist conservative cure. Supporters saw him as Reaganesque -- a successful movie-television actor with Capitol Hill credentials and a plain-spoken, down-home Southern charm.

But Saturday night many South Carolinians jilted Thompson for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister with strong appeal to Christian evangelicals.

Thompson's campaign had problems even before Huckabee's rise. He was generating lots of enthusiastic anticipation last spring, but didn't enter the race until after Labor Day.

"Timing seems to be a type of plague for Thompson -- getting in too late, putting all his eggs in the South Carolina basket, Huckabee's rise," said Blease Graham, a University of South Carolina political science professor.

"But as much as anything, there was an absence of a clear message. It was as if he was waiting for something."
_______________________
 Fred Heads Do Not Give Up
John R. Houk
© January 20, 2008
_________________________

Thompson falls short, but stays in race
COPYRIGHT

Leave a COMMENT.

powered by [ stevencopley.com ]