Thompson out, but some backers not abandoning ship

Thompson out, but some backers not abandoning ship
Chattanooga Times Free Press ^ | January 26, 2008 | Andy Sher

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/jan/26/first-person-thompson-out-some-backers-not-abandon/

NASHVILLE — Republican Fred Thompson is out of the presidential race, but that isn’t stopping some top Republican officials from continuing to support the former U.S. senator in the Feb. 5 GOP primary.

Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, is running as an at-large delegate for Mr. Thompson. Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris, R-Collierville, is running as a Thompson delegate in the 7th Congressional District.

And both are hoping to get to the Republican National Convention this summer as delegates.

During a press availability with reporters this week, Lt. Gov. Ramsey told reporters he has been getting calls from various GOP campaigns seeking his support since Mr. Thompson’s flagging campaign officially fizzled.

“Obviously, Chip Saltsman, who’s with Mike Huckabee, called about 30 minutes after Fred was out, and I asked him what took so long,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey joked of Mr. Saltsman, a former Tennessee Republican Party chairman who is Mr. Huckabee’s campaign manager.

“Yesterday,” Lt. Gov. Ramsey continued, “I got a phone call that came up, unknown number, blocked caller ID. And usually I don’t answer that because it’s usually one of you all (reporters), to be perfectly honest. ... But I answered anyway, and (the voice) said, ‘Hello, this is Mitt Romney.’”

The lieutenant governor said, “I’m going to try to stay out of it at least for right now. I’ll be behind whoever wins.”

Sen. Norris then noted, “I’m a delegate for Fred Thompson, and I’m still on the ballot.”

Asked if he were encouraging people to still vote for Mr. Thompson, Sen. Norris grinned and said, “you bet. I’m a delegate.”

Then came a confession from Lt. Gov. Ramsey: “And I am (a delegate) too. So I will too. I'm a statewide delegate. I'm sure I still will. Even though he's out, I will, at this time.”

Mr. Thompson remains on the ballot and can still win delegates if he wins a certain percentage of the vote.

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He might be out but if he's on the ballot I'm voting for him Feb. 5.  I've received a couple of emails encouraging supporters to vote for him in the primary.

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I am voting for Fred Thompson on February 5th.

Thanks HFTD.  I hope a lot of us will.  I think that when some people see his name on the ballot that they will vote for him but I'm afraid some will not because they heard he dropped out.  I'll have to vote for the least bad of what is left in the general election.  That might have to be Mitt but I'm still voting for Fred in the primary.

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I think if strong conservatives want change they will vote Fred Thompson on February 5th.  The conservatives need to make a statement and by voting Fred Thompson they will make that statement!

My husband says it's a waste of time since he's not running and that I should vote for the guy I think is best.  The big problem with that is that they are all about the same to me.  Mitt might be a hair better than the rest and I'm looking at him but he's not enough better so far to really stand out IMO.  I can't get enthused about him as of yet.  Everytime I find something I like about him I find two things I don't.

I'm still voting for Fred.

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Okay guys, you have to help me out here.  I love Fred too and certainly sent him enough money that I could ill afford to part with.  But, he's out and we have to move to.  Help me understand why one should vote for someone not even in the race anymore.  Is it just to make a statement?  To show one's dedication and hope?  Maybe think it will press him back into the race?  Or encourage him to run as an independent?  I just don't see it as much different from putting in an order for Edsel, when you know the plant is shut down and the "Out of Business" sign is on the door.  We have seen many supporters on this board say the same thing when Tanc and Hunter dropped out. 

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Melinda in TN said:

My husband says it's a waste of time since he's not running and that I should vote for the guy I think is best.  The big problem with that is that they are all about the same to me.  Mitt might be a hair better than the rest and I'm looking at him but he's not enough better so far to really stand out IMO.  I can't get enthused about him as of yet.  Everytime I find something I like about him I find two things I don't.

I'm still voting for Fred.

 

It is not a waste of time.  Your husband is wrong.  Question, why do we need to settle for what is best now?  To me that is the wrong approach.

I'm still voting for Fred.

At this point in time I'm just discouraged Patsy.  I surveyed some people at work last week and I got one for Romney, several for Huckabee and one for McCain.  They are all over the place since everybody I know was voting for Fred, except for the handful of Democrats.  I think Fred quit too soon.  Candidates have come from much further back than where Fred was polling to eventually go to the front.  South Carolina is not the only Southern state in play.  I would never have figured he would quit so soon, if at all.  I'm just glad he hasn't endorsed anybody and I hope he doesn't.

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I wish he hadn't dropped out before Super Tuesday too.  By the same token, I don't understand why Tanc dropped out before Iowa, or why Hunter made his "major announcement" to label the media "knuckleheads" (yeah, there's a strong word!!) and then dropped out a week or two later.  Oh well, such is politics.

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Why, may I ask, on God's green earth would you vote (throw away your vote) for someone who is not even running?

 Walking away shaking my head.  

 

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If these men dropped out of the race, I figure they had good personal reasons and enough sense to realize they would not be the nominee.  The least we could do is try to have that same good sense and focus on getting a  Republican in the White House.

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redwhite&blue said:

Why, may I ask, on God's green earth would you vote (throw away your vote) for someone who is not even running?

 Walking away shaking my head.  

 

 

Only in the primaries.  Since I don't see much difference in the candidates we have left, I will vote for Romney in the general election because it's becoming obvious that Romney is who we will end up with.  I won't waste my vote in the big one that separates us from Hillary or Obama.

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Only in the primaries.  Since I don't see much difference in the candidates we have left, I will vote for Romney in the general election because it's becoming obvious that Romney is who we will end up with.  I won't waste my vote in the big one that separates us from Hillary or Obama.

I guess that is why I don't understand the logic, MelindainTN.  The risk you run in voting for Thompson in the primary is that the nod will go to McCain.  So it matters.  It matters a great deal.

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Patsy said:

Only in the primaries.  Since I don't see much difference in the candidates we have left, I will vote for Romney in the general election because it's becoming obvious that Romney is who we will end up with.  I won't waste my vote in the big one that separates us from Hillary or Obama.

I guess that is why I don't understand the logic, MelindainTN.  The risk you run in voting for Thompson in the primary is that the nod will go to McCain.  So it matters.  It matters a great deal.

It does matter this time.  Sometimes you can get away with voting your conscience, but not with McCain so close to the top.

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Do you really think McCain has a chance against Romney?  I see Huck as a bigger threat, at least in this area.

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Huck is going to run out of money soon and be gone.  McCain hopefully will run out of cash too, but he just got a $7M boost supposedly.  Granted having money doesn't buy a win, but a candidate isn't even in the running if he does NOT have money.  He's not going to go down without a fight.

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I just saw a thing on Fox on how the various Repubs would do against Hillary in the Presidential contest.  McCain actually won.  Mitt, Huckabee, and Giuillini didn't fare so good against Hillary.

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John McCain (R) vs. Hillary Clinton (D)
Poll	Date	Sample	McCain (R)	Clinton (D)	Spread
RCP Average	01/09 to 01/22	-	46.3%	46.2%	McCain +0.1%
NBC/WSJ	01/20 - 01/22	1008 A	46%	44%	McCain +2%
LA Times/Bloomberg	01/18 - 01/22	1312 RV	42%	46%	Clinton +4%
Rasmussen	01/16 - 01/17	800 LV	45%	47%	Clinton +2%
USA Today/Gallup	01/10 - 01/13	1106 LV	50%	47%	McCain +3%
Hotline/FD	01/10 - 01/12	803 RV	47%	43%	McCain +4%
CNN	01/09 - 01/10	840 RV	48%	50%	Clinton +2%
See More General Election: McCain vs. Clinton Polls | Chart

John McCain (R) vs. Barack Obama (D) Poll Date Sample McCain (R) Obama (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 43.7% 44.0% Obama +0.3% NBC/WSJ 01/20 - 01/22 1008 A 42% 42% Tie LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 42% 41% McCain +1% Rasmussen 01/16 - 01/17 800 LV 41% 46% Obama +5% USA Today/Gallup 01/10 - 01/13 1106 LV 50% 45% McCain +5% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 39% 41% Obama +2% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 48% 49% Obama +1% See More General Election: McCain vs. Obama Polls | Chart

Mitt Romney (R) vs. Hillary Clinton (D) Poll Date Sample Romney (R) Clinton (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 39.5% 51.0% Clinton +11.5% Rasmussen 01/21 - 01/22 800 LV 42% 47% Clinton +5% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 39% 50% Clinton +11% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 37% 49% Clinton +12% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 40% 58% Clinton +18% See More General Election: Romney vs. Clinton Polls | Chart

Mitt Romney (R) vs. Barack Obama (D) Poll Date Sample Romney (R) Obama (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 34.0% 52.0% Obama +18.0% Rasmussen 01/21 - 01/22 800 LV 38% 47% Obama +9% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 35% 46% Obama +11% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 26% 56% Obama +30% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 37% 59% Obama +22% See More General Election: Romney vs. Obama Polls | Chart

Rudy Giuliani (R) vs. Hillary Clinton (D) Poll Date Sample Giuliani (R) Clinton (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 40.3% 50.8% Clinton +10.5% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 37% 53% Clinton +16% Rasmussen 01/14 - 01/15 800 LV 42% 45% Clinton +3% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 40% 50% Clinton +10% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 42% 55% Clinton +13% See More General Election: Giuliani vs. Clinton Polls | Chart

Rudy Giuliani (R) vs. Barack Obama (D) Poll Date Sample Giuliani (R) Obama (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 36.5% 51.5% Obama +15.0% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 32% 49% Obama +17% Rasmussen 01/14 - 01/15 800 LV 41% 47% Obama +6% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 33% 54% Obama +21% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 40% 56% Obama +16% See More General Election: Giuliani vs. Obama Polls | Chart

Mike Huckabee (R) vs. Hillary Clinton (D) Poll Date Sample Huckabee (R) Clinton (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 40.8% 50.8% Clinton +10.0% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 38% 51% Clinton +13% Rasmussen 01/18 - 01/20 800 LV 40% 48% Clinton +8% USA Today/Gallup 01/10 - 01/13 1106 LV 45% 51% Clinton +6% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 39% 48% Clinton +9% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 42% 56% Clinton +14% See More General Election: Huckabee vs. Clinton Polls | Chart

Mike Huckabee (R) vs. Barack Obama (D) Poll Date Sample Huckabee (R) Obama (D) Spread RCP Average 01/09 to 01/22 - 36.8% 52.4% Obama +15.6% LA Times/Bloomberg 01/18 - 01/22 1312 RV 37% 47% Obama +10% Rasmussen 01/18 - 01/20 800 LV 35% 51% Obama +16% USA Today/Gallup 01/10 - 01/13 1106 LV 43% 53% Obama +10% Hotline/FD 01/10 - 01/12 803 RV 30% 53% Obama +23% CNN 01/09 - 01/10 840 RV 39% 58% Obama +19% See More General Election: Huckabee vs. Obama Polls | Chart

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It is NOT time to make a statement by voting in the primaries for those who dropped out already!  We can not "assume" Romney will get the nod .... period!  Get in there -- vote for Romney -- and don't regret your actions later if you "stand firm" and make a statement -- but the wrong statement!

Tanc didn't get enough traction (but supports Romney), Hunter didn't either and then he throws his support to Huckabee (please) -- and Fred ..... well, he and his campaign team failed miserably -- sorry, but that's a fact!  As much as I wanted Fred, and contributed, and spread the word .... I feel I was let down, and must now support my second choice, Mitt Romney!  All the rest is history folks!  Wake up!

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The drive-by media wants a McCain-Hillary to go against each other.  But, neither of have nomination so why even talk about it.  The media is nuts and that is including Fox's News.