Campaign Dirty Tricks
When it comes to elections, I assume that Democrats will do whatever it takes to win elections. That’s a foregone conclusion to me. What I can’t stand is when Republicans engage in campaign dirty tricks. Based on this USA Today blog post, it appears as though that’s what’s happening:
One of The Politico’s top stories this morning: “Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.” The sources telling that to reporters Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen: “Well-connected friends and advisers of Thompson.” Allen and Martin report that one of those sources “said there is ‘a strong likelihood’ that if Thompson comes in a distant third in Iowa, with less than 15% of the vote, he would drop out soon—most likely before this weekend’s New Hampshire presidential debates.”
The Thompson campaign, however, did announce Wednesday that the former Tennessee senator plans to be at those debates. And Thompson campaign spokeswoman Karen Henretty told Politico that “doing well in Iowa means exceeding expectations, and Fred has been exceeding expectations for more than forty years…. Thursday’s results aren’t likely to close any chapters.”
And IowaPolitics.com writes that last evening Thompson said “That is absolutely made up out of whole cloth.” He said a rival campaign was probably trying to spin the news. “Can you imagine such a thing in politics?” he asked. Thompson also said he thinks there’s been a “surge” in interest for his campaign in recent days, a view echoed by the conservative blog The Corner at National Review Online. Ed Morrissey at the conservative Captain’s Quarters also thinks the story is just “rumor and speculation.”
When it’s revealed who put this out there, their reputation won’t be worth a plugged nickel. It’s impossible to know who put this stuff out there but this might have a backlash effect, though not necessarily in Iowa.
Needless to say, there’s a spate of stories talking about Fred. One has Fred dropping out after Iowa. Another says that he’ll endorse John McCain. The Carpetbagger Report asks this question: “Thompson to exit stage right?”
Forget all that nonsense. Fred’s in this for awhile.
Technorati Tags: Fred Thompson, Iowa Caucuses, John McCain, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Thank you for posting this utter nonsense! Everyone in my office was rolling on the floor laughing at these remarks, what with only yesterday worrying about your credibility. Obviously, yesterday’s worries are today’s forgone conclusions, with a ridiculous statement like “Democrats will do whatever it takes to win elections” as opposed, to say, republicans push-polling John McCain’s bastard black child in South Carolina in 2000, or better yet, Katherine Harris’ calling of the election (for Bush) before the votes were even counted… just two old-timey examples of Republican dirty tricks. Yeah, its only Democrats who engage in such activites. As Carlos (haven’t heard from him in a while) says, his side is as pure as the driven snow.
No, republicans are the masters of dirty tricks, going back as far as memory serves. Lee Atwater, Karl Rove… abuse of the system is the way republicans work in today’s shark-infested culture.
And you’re surprised they’d turn on themselves? Have you not been paying attention?
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Democraps WILL do anything to win because they will always lose in the arena of ideas. I hope they track down the bastard(s) who took this lie on. Keep digging.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
When you have a field full of Faux Republicans of course this kind of nonsense will happen.
Go Fred GO!
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
BTW Rockhead this isnt the Daily KOS…OK…