**FNS EXCLUSIVE: FRED THOMPSON**
According to this article, Fred Thompson will be Chris Wallace’s guest this Sunday. This type of exposure that close to the Iowa Caucuses has to give the Thompson campaign a boost in making its closing push.
One of the things I’ll be watching for is to see what type of rating the show gets. If it gets a high rating, then that’ll be an indicator that people are still open to picking Fred when Iowans caucus next Thursday.
Contrary to what the pundits are saying, I think there’s alot still up in the air. This CBS article indicates something alarming for the so-called consensus front-runners:
At the very least, voters are having commitment issues. A recent CBS News poll says over three-quarters of Republican primary voters haven’t made up their minds yet.
I don’t know how accurate that poll is. Even if half that many people are still open to change, that’s nearly 40 percent of voters that still haven’t made up their minds. That’s an indicator that Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee haven’t closed the sale with Iowa voters.
That’s gotta be especially disturbing for Mitt Romney, considering how much time and money he’s spent in Iowa. This is why I never bought into Hugh Hewitt’s thinking that Mitt had the money. Money doesn’t matter if your credibility is questionable.
The reverse is true of Fred. He’s short on money, though I just noticed that they’d met their fundraising goal to run their ad statewide. He’s short on money but long on credibility and gravitas. This Sunday’s appearance on FNS is a great opportunity for him to appeal to Iowa voters. If Sen. Thompson hits it out of the park like he’s capable, that appearance could make a significant impact on Thursday night’s caucuses.
UPDATE: Fred Thompson picked up another endorsement today. Here’s what their official statement said:
Today Iowa State Representative Gary Worthan announced his support of Fred Thompson for President of the United States. Representative Worthan joins a strong Thompson organization in Iowa already in place and headed by Iowa State Chair Congressman Steve King and Co-Chairs Representative Kraig Paulsen and Representative Sandy Greiner.
“I’ve been impressed with Fred’s ability to boil the issues down to the essential items, without a lot of hyperbole,” stated Representative Worthan. “He just plain tells the truth. We’re in a long hard struggle and there are no easy answers like some of the other candidates are coming with.”
Gary Worthan represents the conservative 52nd District, serving Buena Vista and Sac Counties. He has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2007, when he won a special election to replace the deceased Mary Lou Freeman. Worthan currently serves on several committees in the Iowa House, Agriculture, Public Safety, Transportation and Veterans Affairs. He also serves on the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.
Representative Worthan has three sons. His oldest son Ryan is a Major in the Army and earned a Silver Star for serving in Afghanistan and two Bronze Stars for serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shannon is a Captain in the Army and earned a Bronze Star in Iraq.
“I am pleased to have the support of Representative Gary Worthan,” said Senator Thompson. “I admire his leadership in the Iowa General Assembly and his commitment to conservative principles. Representative Worthan understands the increasing challenges we are facing as a nation both domestically and internationally and the need for strong consistent conservative leadership.”
Fred Thompson’s Iowa Statewide Legislative Leadership team includes:
U.S. Congressman Steve King, State Chair
State Representative Kraig Paulsen, Co-Chair
State Representative Sandy Greiner, Co-Chair
State Representative Clel Baudler
Former State Senator Bob Brunkhorst
State Representative Royd Chambers
State Representative Jeff Kaufmann
State Representative Jamie Van Fossen
State Representative Gary Worthan
I don’t know that much about Mr. Worthan but it sounds like he’s a salt of the earth type of guy whose family is committed to serving their country. I suspect that his endorsement includes the help of his organization, which shouldn’t be underestimated.
Technorati Tags: Fred Thompson, Chris Wallace, Fox News Sunday, FNC, Iowa Caucuses, Undecided Voters, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
December 28th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I made my first ever political contribution today. I sent Fred $50 so that he can make his point in Iowa. GO FRED!!!!!
December 28th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I was stoke about meeting the fundraising goal.
It’s still going up!
December 28th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
I have to turn the Fredheads on to you folks. I’m going to find a space on my web site for a link to your web site.
Check us out at http://www.pinnaclecascade.com
December 28th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Fred has his strde hes coming into the homestretch Bet it all on Thompson the True Conservative he will shock the MSM, Polls and Pundits !! FRED08
December 28th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Me: Alex, I’ll take “Famous Freds” for $1000:
Alex: “Gucci-wearing lobbyist and one-dimensional actor who dropped out of the presidential race early in 2008 after running a very unimpressive campaign”
Me: Who is Fred Thompson, aka Frederick of Hollywood?
December 28th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Hey Rocky, you’re an idiot. Just who do you support? Ron Paul, the shrieking, whiney, liberal who has no foreign policy whatsoever? I’m voting for Fred, the REAL conservative leader on the GOP side.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:44 am
The Best Republican Presidential Candidate for 2008
Former Senator Fred Thompson is the only real conservative in the race for the Republican nomination, and the only candidate who can unite all three pillars of the Republican Party, namely, fiscal conservatives; national security and defense conservatives; and religious conservatives.
The Republican party, given that the nation is divided, cannot afford to alienate any of these pillars, or they will lose in the general election, as a sufficient number of the alienated pillar’s constituents will simply not cast a vote for president when they vote. This is not an attempt to intimidate Republican voters, but merely a recognition that there are certain conservative voters who simply will not violate their own principles and vote for someone they have fundamental disagreements with, or do not trust. For example, Governor Romney, has not provided a satisfactory answer in the minds of many religious conservatives in his efforts to explain the change from pro-choice to pro-life. They want to know the motivation, and need to be convinced that it was not political. This matter remains unresolved, and thus alienates a proportion of religious conservatives who would otherwise support him as the party’s nominee - regardless of his own religious persuasion. Mayor Guiliani also has a similar problem with religious conservatives, given his personal position on abortion; and promising to appoint strict constructionist judges will not vitiate the conflict with pro-life constituents. Religious conservatives will not vote for a pro-choice Republican nominee - even if it means electing Senator Clinton president. They will not violate a moral conviction. They will simply adopt the attitude - God’s will be done, and maintain their conviction. Governor Huckabee alienates fiscal conservatives as a result of his tax and spend policies during his tenure in Arkansas. Senator McCain, terminally severed his relationship with a proportion of national security conservatives through his aggressive support of the proposed comprehensive immigration agreement, which failed as a result of a citizens’ uprising against this legislation; his opposition to the tax cut policy of the Bush Administration; and his opposition to aggressive interrogation techniques on high value captured terrorists.
Senator Thompson has none of the foregoing problems. He is strong on defense of the nation during a time of war, and has already committed to a substantial increase in the size of our military to fight the enemy threatening our survival; will seal the border, and reverse illegal immigration through attrition; will maintain the current tax policy, and reduce taxes by instituting his proposed voluntary flat tax system with only two rates, one at 10% with no deductions; and the other 25% maximum with current deductions maintained. He will also lower the corporate tax rate to ensure US Corporations are operating at the same tax rates as foreign corporations. Moreover, Mr. Thompson is the only candidate to assemble a plan to address the impending social security system crisis - the “third rail” of American politics. The Senator is acceptable to religious conservatives as well, given his strong and long-standing pro-life position, which explains why he was endorsed by the National Right to Life organization, and many similar state organizations.
In respect to the “fire in the belly” complaint, which is preferable: “Fire in the belly?” or the following leadership characteristics? Personal integrity; moral conviction; courage; perseverance; boldness; humility; analytical intelligence; calm and deliberate disposition; decisiveness; understands historical context and timing; commitment; and vision. In short, the Senator will show more than adequate “fire in the belly” when he demonstrates to those attempting to destroy our beloved nation a backbone of iron and the fury of an adversary who will unleash a conflagration, if necessary, to preserve our sacred liberty. One must guard against being deceived by cliché terms such as “fire in the belly,” in the middle of a media driven political campaign, when there are substantially more important, and higher priority characteristics needed in the President of the United States, and leader of the free world.
For Republicans to win the White House, they must be united and have a large voter turnout among all three of their voting pillars, that is fiscal conservatives; national security conservatives; and religious conservatives. Senator Thompson, is the only candidate not alienating any of these voting pillars, and thus can galvanize their support. Accordingly, he is the best hope for Republicans in the 2008 national election. Indeed Senator Thompson can win the general election, and rest assured the other party knows it for the same reasons articulated herein; to wit: he unites the Republican constituencies and assures a large conservative voter turnout in the 2008 election.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:58 am
There is another conservative, Duncan Hunter, who has gotten nothing in the way of attention from the press, probably because of the fact that he is, and does not have the financial support that Fred or Tancredo.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
It speaks volumes (after a somewhat overly lengthy post, no less) that the big reason to vote for Freddie comes in “the only candidate not alienating any of these voting pillars.” See, folks, it’s not what you stand for today; it just comes down to whom you alienate the least. At least on the republican side.
A vote for Fred is exactly that; Fred’s dulcet tones notwithstanding, he has no foreign policy experience, no fiscal experience, and declares that he needs not attend church, except when he visits his mother, of course. Twice married (lest we forget he knocked up and married wife number 1 in 1959 and had Freddie Jr. in April 1960, a mere seven-month time span), Fred’s real talent lies in going along to get along. So if you want someone who can bullshit his way through life, Fred’s your candidate.
Meanwhile, Mr. Houghton, if you’d like to throw some good money after bad, let me know and I’ll post my paypal address.
December 31st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Hey Rock! Watch me pull some facts, not pious negativism, from my hat. Sen. Thompson is the one candidate with white papers on his fiscal policy and actual plans to reform the IRS as well as social security. MSM has actually lauded both of these and commented on how he was the only candidate to put plans on paper for the nation to review. So, lacking any fiscal experience, as you state, it should seem quite odd to even you that he has the most solid, complete and real plan to reform 2 government systems in bad need of repair. If you are a conservative, I challenge you to actually study this man. If not, then please vote for Hillary so Sen. Thompson can be the next POTUS.