Posted: January 3, 2008 6:49 PM
Rumors Overshadow Thompson's Final Push in Iowa
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Before the Iowa caucuses have even begun, there are rumors about former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson dropping out of the presidential race after Thursday’s contest and giving his endorsement to Sen. John McCain, Ariz.
Politco.com cites a Thompson campaign source saying if Thompson finishes with “less than 15 percent of the vote, he would drop out soon — most likely before this weekend’s New Hampshire presidential debates.” The polls in Iowa have not been kind to Thompson. He has hovered between third and fourth place, but only in single-digit percentages — well below the 15 percent he reportedly needs to stay in the race. He is faring even worse in New Hampshire, the next major contest.
While most candidates have lowered expectations for a strong finish in Iowa, Thompson raised the stakes for his campaign. Last month Thompson claimed he needed to finish better than fourth in Iowa. But last week he said, “I need to come in second.”
For his part on Thursday, Thompson addressed supporters in Des Moines, telling them, Let’s go out and shock the world!
His advisers denied reports that he would drop out.
Asked on Wednesday by the Des Moines Register what he would do if he finished poorly, Thompson said, “I am not going to play into a negative scenario.”
-- By , NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | Comments | Link
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Senator Thompson is a sad case. Wm. Jennings Bryan would understand. We have a sick system. TV promotes without thought. Writing no longer matters. The candidates go with image, and Fred Thompson's is that of any elderly man trying to impress a young wife. There is no sex in this election. That stuff passed with WJC.