MyDD :: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race

Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race

by Todd Beeton, Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:29:57 PM EST

So says Fox News (via Think Progress):

Fox News has learned that Fred Thompson is returning to his home in McClean VA and plans to withdraw from the race. He has begun calling friends, family and supporters and telling them his campaign is over.

One suspects when he does so, he'll endorse John McCain.

Sigh. So long, Grandpa Fred, we hardly knew ye.

Update [2008-1-22 14:35:10 by Todd Beeton]:His statement:

"Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States," Thompson said. "I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people."

Tags: 2008 presidential election, republican nomination, fred thompson (all tags)

Permalink :: 24 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Instead of endorsing McCain, he should be endorsing Viagra.

by Pravin on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:30:59 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Thanks a lot for making me think about Fred Thompson's member. :-0

by Oregonian on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 06:07:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Fred is out. Will help Huckabee but it may be too late to have a substantial effect.

"Apparently they have an 11-month calendar over there that's missing the month of February," Obama strategist David Axelrod

by Jr1886 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:31:31 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

the was the whole point of the timing, no?

by the mollusk on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:39:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

We need to give Fred a round of applause,lol.

"Apparently they have an 11-month calendar over there that's missing the month of February," Obama strategist David Axelrod

by Jr1886 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:32:33 PM EST

He Did What He Needed To (none / 0)

And peeled off just enough conservative support for McCain to win SC.

by Zeitgeist9000 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:33:08 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

I think this will have almost no effect. It's kind of like all the speculation of Edwards getting out. It won't make a big impact for anyone in particular.

by rcipw on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:35:42 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

I dunno, the guy was drawing double digits in Florida. When the other four candidates are within 2-3 points of one another, an extra 10-15% of available voters could have a significant impact.

Thompson himself likes McCain. Huckabee is other conservative Christian. Romney is the other traditional Republican. My guess is Thompson voters split between Huck and McCain, screwing McCain. Regardless of what happens to Romney, this has to be bad news for Guiliani.

Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?

by Nathan Empsall on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:18:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

That's kind of my point. I think Edwards has more than the 4% he got in Nevada, but it doesn't go to the benefit of one particular candidate and gets spread around.

by rcipw on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:23:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson To Drop Out Of The Race (none / 0)

It may not play kingmaker, but it still has an affect in taking Florida away from Guiliani. If it was a three-man field like ours, I'd be more inclined to agree.

Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?

by Nathan Empsall on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:35:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

All right! Law and Order reruns can go back on in Florida.

by alexmhogan on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:39:01 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Awwwww, how sad, and he had 11 delegates, too.

Blogging politics and life in general at jimmy.bouma-holtrop.com

by forecaster15 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:39:40 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (2.00 / 1)

KING MAKER!!

by danIA on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:51:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

The media seems to freakin' LOVE that word/phrase!

by frankies on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:21:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

No such thing as a kingmaker this early in a race. Had Thompson stayed in past Feb. 5 and waited for the OH/TX/VT March day, he could have taken that role.

Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?

by Nathan Empsall on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:22:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thompson was preposterous (none / 0)

He's as preposterous as Kucinich or Paul and yet he was a serious candidate. It's a measure of the deep doo doo the Republicans are in. He'll endorse McCain but his follower will go to Huck who would probably have won SC had he already dropped out. Which is why he didn't!

by ottovbvs on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:39:45 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (2.00 / 1)

It would have been interesting to refrain from reporting this and see if anyone noticed. "Wow, Fred's campaign seems even more low-key than usual these days..."

I still laugh thinking about the confused look on my wife's face the other day as she asked me who the heck Duncan Hunter was.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 02:51:38 PM EST

I hear he might endorse Obama .... (none / 0)

Just some humor here folks. A joke.

by dpANDREWS on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:15:01 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

But who will save the Republicans from their pathetic field now???

In all seriousness, I did think he was the one candidate who had a show at holding the current Reagan Republican coalition together - the neocons, business traditionatilists, religious right, etc. Romney could keep them together, but since he's so phony they'd fall apart as soon as he lost, or left office depending. McCain, Huck, and Guiliani don't speak to the whole party. Thompson was the only one who could genuinely keep them together through this election and beyond, and of course never had a shot. That's good news for us.

Ever heard of a Blue Moose Democrat?

by Nathan Empsall on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:21:19 PM EST

Huckabee Is Celebrating (none / 0)

This is quite a significant development for Huckabee. He is celebrating right now.

It means that he will likely win a lot of delegates in the South. It makes him much more competitive.

I had thought that the Republican powers that be had convinced Fred to stay in at least until Florida...to hurt Huckabee there. As such, this is very surprising news to me.

Now...with Fred out, Huckabee has a much better shot at winning Florida, which if he does win, will REALLY help him in the South.

For Huckabee, this ranks right up there with his Iowa win.

by Demo37 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:24:04 PM EST

How can we tell? (none / 0)

Are you sure he's out? How is the "campaign" different from yesterday? Drat-now Rudy will come in third in Florida....

by Skipster on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 03:57:19 PM EST

that was embarassing (none / 0)

he should have done a Gingrich or Colin Powell and resisted running. Then you could always talk about how you knew you could win, but it wasn't the right time for your family.

He's promising to refund all the donations.

by yellowdem1129 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 04:38:35 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Oberman said it best: Fred Thompson has cleared his throat for the last time.

by ND1979 on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 08:52:41 PM EST

Re: Fred Thompson Drops Out Of The Race (none / 0)

Congratulations, retire with dignity, and go back to sleep.

by nzubechukwu on Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 10:34:43 PM EST

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