Fred Endorses McCain

WE SHOULD TOO

Fred Thompson, said late Friday he was endorsing McCain:

"This is no longer about past preferences or differences. It is about what is best for our country and for me that means that Republican should close ranks behind John McCain," Thompson said in a statement.

John McCain, in his new status as the presumptive Republican nominee has reached out to Conservatives. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., he was introduced by former Virginia Senator George Allen and Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn, a not so subtle blessing from respected Conservative leaders.

McCain offered to meet disaffected Conservatives halfway. He vowed to lower taxes, appoint judges "of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito," and reject "big government" solutions to health care, reminded the audience of his continuing support for the war, declaring, "I intend to win the war."

What is most important, for those of us who have quibbles over some of McCain's positions, McCain promised to listen:

"We have had a few disagreements," McCain said. "And none of us will pretend that we won't continue to have a few. But even in disagreement, especially in disagreement, I will seek the counsel of my fellow conservatives. If I am convinced my judgment is in error, I will correct it. And if I stand by my position, even after benefit of your counsel, I hope you will not lose sight of the far more numerous occasions when we are in accord."

We should follow Fred's example and respond to McCain's olive branch by also meeting the presumptive nominee halfway.

Sure, we all have at least some quibbles with McCain. We have some quibbles with everyone. But my quibbles with McCain, recede past the level of insignificance when compared to the enormous disagreements I have with either possible Democratic nominee.

We need not go through the list, issue by issue. It is more than enough to just briefly consider what the two possible Democratic presidential candidates, those darlings of the Liberal/Progressive left wing, promise they will do every time they recite their stump speeches: Retreat from Iraq, even as we are making significant progress in the longterm effort there; collect and spend billions an billions more in taxes expanding the big government nanny state so that it controls more and more of our lives; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

To those who say they think they would rather sit out the election than meet McCain halfway, I respectfully ask that you reconsider. Is such a course of action responsible? Does leaving the field to your opponents ever help your cause to prevail? I think not.

I'm not suggesting that you change your mind and advocate or support positions with which you disagree. The discussion on those points can continue until some common understanding is reached. No, all I ask is that you respond to the olive branch offered by John McCain and just meet the presumptive Republican presidential nominee half way.

Missing Fred

A little nostalgia for the Fred Heads.

Michigan Primary Prediction 2008

I'm going to take another shot at exposing myself to unnecessary ridicule and predict guess what I think will be the result of the Michigan primary

Once again, the Republican race is a toss up between McCain and Romney. Michigan, like New Hampshire is an open primary, which means and any registered voter can vote. That again leaves us wondering whether independents will turn out and vote for McCain?

Republicans
Romney - 31%
McCain - 30%
Huckabee - 17%
Thompson - 10%
Paul - 7%
Giuliani - 4%
Duncan Hunter - 1%

The Democratic primary doesn't count because the Democratic National Committee voted to disenfranchise Michigan Democrats by stripping Michigan of all of its 156 delegates to the party’s 2008 nominating convention in Denver.

The Democratic Party leaders are punishing Michigan Democrats for scheduling their presidential primary earlier than the national party leaders think they should. Democratic Party rules allow only Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to hold 2008 primary contests before February 5.

The Democratic candidates all agreed not to campaign in Michigan and Edwards and Obama withdrew their names from the ballot. A whisper campaign is under way to get Edwards and Obama and supporters to vote for uncommitted, thereby embarrassing Hillary.

Democrats
Hillary - 56%
Uncommitted - 41%
Kucinich - 2%
Gravel - 1%

You can find more New Hampshire at predictions at Election Projection.

Luntz's Focus Group Likes Fred

Luntz's Focus Group says Fred Thompson won the Republican debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.



I guess the focus group liked Fred calling Huckabee on his liberal economic foreign policies. I know I did.

Thompson Vs. Huckabee

Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee went at it over Huckabee's record as governor of Arkansas during the Republican debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Answering a question about the future of the Reagan Coalition, Thompson said, "This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and its future:"

He said that Mr. Huckabee, a Baptist minister, "would be a Christian leader, but he would bring about liberal economic policies and liberal foreign policies." Mr. Thompson then listed Mr. Huckabee's record on the prison at Guantanamo Bay, education, taxes, foreign policy and federalism, a record that he charged was at odds with Mr. Reagan's conservatism. "That's not the model of the Reagan Coalition, that's the model of the Democratic Party," Mr. Thompson said to applause.

Huckabee defended his record, saying he "stayed faithful with the things Ronald Reagan was faithful to."Watch the video:



Score: Thompson 1 - Huckabee 0.

Romney Wins Wyoming

Romney won over 70% of Wyoming's 14 delegates. USA Today reports Romney won eight delegates, Fred Thompson won two and Duncan Hunter won one.

Romney 7 73%
Thompson 2 18%
Hunter 1 9%

A total of 12 delegates will be selected today. Two more delegates will be elected later at a state convention.
Wyoming Republicans forfeited 14, of the state's 28 delegates because the state Republican Party held the caucuses earlier than the national party rules allow.

No delegates were actually elected in Iowa.

Fred Carries On

As of midnight, Thompson and John McCain were in a close race for third-place in the Iowa caucuses. That's good enough for Fred:

"It looks like somebody is going to need to carry a strong, consistent, conservative message and it looks like it ought to be me," Thompson told a cheering crowd of about 200 supporters at a downtown hotel. "I don't know whether it's going to be a definitive third or tied for third, or whatever, but it's pretty clear that we're going to have a ticket to the next dance."

Hopefully Fred's third place finish and prolonged bus tour at the end of December will dispel the rumors that he is not serious about his presidential campaign.

Fred Denies Rumors He Will Quit

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson says there is no truth to rumors that his campaign will fold before New Hampshire if he doesn't have a strong showing in Iowa.

At Politico, Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen wrote that "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."

Thompson said a rival campaign was likely the source of that rumor.

Here's a video of Thompson denying the Rumor on Fox & Friends.

Fred's Powerful Pitch

Fred makes his pitch as to why he's the best candidate for the presidency.

Seventeen minutes may sound long, but it's not too much time to invest in selecting a president. Watch it:



Fred's pitch is very powerful. I wish Fred gave a speech like this when he addressed the Lincoln Club of Orange County's annual dinner in May.

Thompson's Christmas Holiday Message

Fred Thompson's "Christmas Holiday Message," is by far my favorite special holiday message from the presidential contenders:



We can't possible thank the members of our armed forces enough. May God bless and keep them.

Leaving Arizona

Attrition By Enforcement

Illegal Aliens are packing up and leaving Arizona.

Arizona enacted a new law in an attempt to lessen economic incentives for illegal aliens. Under the new law, which takes effect January 1, businesses found to have knowingly hired illegal workers will be subject to sanctions from probation to a 10-day suspension of their business licenses. A second violation would bring permanent revocation of the license.

Arizona employers have started to fire workers who can't prove they are in the country legally. As a result illegal aliens are returning to their home countries or moving other states.

The departure of the illegals from Arizona proves that attrition by enforcement works. When illegal aliens don't have jobs, they don't stick around.

Fred got it right.

Tancredo Endorsed Romney To Stop Hucakbee

Former Republican presidential candidate, Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, said he withdrew from the presidential campaign because he feared Mike Huckabee might win in Iowa and New Hampshire.

On Fox News Channel's "The Big Story," Tancredo further explained why he endorsed Romney:

I had an interesting and lengthy discussion with him this morning about his plan. I believe it's viable. I believe he'll stick with it, and he's got the best shot.

Tancredo's endorsement will help Romney in overcoming Huckabee, but by how much? The endorsement also makes it more difficult for Thompson to place in the top three in the Iowa caucuses. It may also slow McCain's resurgence by reminding folks of McCain's support for the Senate's failed so-called immigration reform, which many saw as providing "amnesty" for illegal aliens.

King Endorses Romney, Er Fred

The good folks at NBC's "First Read" got a little ahead of themselves today:

Congressman Steve King (R), one of Iowa's most strident critics of illegal immigration and a champion of the state's rural conservatives, has endorsed Romney.

[. . .]

*** UPDATE *** King just announced that he's supporting Thompson. Team Romney is in the back of the room looking bewildered. They were all here, leading all the press to conclude that it was an endorsement for Romney.

A couple of weeks ago, The Hill said Steve King’s endorsement “could provide a boost for one of the GOP candidates in the all-important first-in-the-nation caucus state.”

Fred is grateful for King's support:

Congressman King’s leadership in support of the sanctity of life and his efforts in the fight against illegal immigration have made him one of Iowa’s great Republican leaders. He’s a tireless fighter for the 5th district of Iowa and I’m honored by his support. I look forward to working with Congressman King over the next three weeks and into 2008 in support of the traditional conservative values he and I share.

There has to an interesting story behind MSNBC's report that King had endorsed Romney….before the endorsement was even announced.

Fred Rebels

The highlight of today’s Des Moines Register Republican Debate was when Fred Thompson led a rebellion against the moderators hand show game.



At a post-debate campaign stop, Republican candidate Fred Thompson explained his reason for refusing to answer a debate question by a show of hands, calling it "monkey business:"

"I just decided that I wasn't going to engage in any of this monkey business that they like to engage us on sometimes -- making us look like trained monkeys reaching for peanut or something ... 30 seconds is brief enough and when they try to reduce your answer to just a hand raise -- I 'aint going to play that game," the former Tennessee senator said.

Candidates have run into difficulties when they have gone along with a moderator's request for a show of hands regarding a complicated question.

Huckabee, Obama Now Lead

The Des Moines Register's new Iowa Poll finds Barack Obama has pulled ahead of Hillary:

Obama, an Illinois senator, leads for the first time in the Register's poll as the choice of 28 percent of likely caucusgoers, up from 22 percent in October. Clinton, a New York senator, was the preferred candidate of 25 percent, down from 29 percent in the previous poll.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who led in the Register's May poll, held steady with 23 percent, in third place, but part of the three-way battle.

Obama is beating Hillary among women and younger voters:

In the new poll, Obama leads with support from 31 percent of women likely attend the caucuses, compared to 26 percent for Clinton. In October, Clinton was the preferred candidate of 34 percent of women caucusgoers, compared to 21 percent for Obama.

Women represent roughly six in 10 Democratic caucusgoers, according to the new poll.

Obama also dominates among younger caucusgoers, with support from 48 percent from those younger than 35. Clinton was the choice of 19 percent in that group and Edwards of 17 percent.

The under-35 bloc represents 14 percent of Democratic caucusgoers, up from 9 percent in the October poll.

Rasmussen Reports calls the Iowa Democratic race "far too close to call."

On the Republican side the new poll finds Huckabee leads Romney, 29% to 24%:

Huckabee wins the support of 29 percent of Iowans who say they definitely or probably will attend the Republican Party's caucuses on Jan. 3. That's a gain of 17 percentage points since the last Iowa Poll was taken in early October, when Huckabee trailed both Romney and Fred Thompson.

Other poll findings indicate that the former Arkansas governor is making the most of a low-budget campaign by tapping into the support of Iowa's social conservatives.

Romney, who has invested more time and money campaigning in the state than any other GOP candidate, remains in the thick of the Iowa race with the backing of 24 percent of likely caucusgoers. But that's a drop of 5 points since October for the former Massachusetts governor.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, the frontrunner in national polls, holds third place in Iowa at 13 percent, despite waging a limited campaign in the state.

Thompson, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee who waited until September to formally enter the race for the Republican nomination, has slipped to fourth place in the Iowa Poll, at 9 percent.

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas are tied for fifth place at 7 percent each. Four other candidates trail them. The new Iowa Poll, conducted over four days last week, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

The new poll also found that Giuliani is seen as the most electable and Thompson is tied with Huckabee as the candidate who is most like Ronald Reagan.

According to Robert Novak, Romney's strategists should be pleased with another poll showing Huckabee's rise:

Strategists for Mitt Romney's Republican presidential campaign were actually pleased that fast-rising Mike Huckabee moved ahead of Romney in the Rasmussen poll in Iowa, eliminating surprise if Huckabee finishes first there in the Jan. 3 caucuses.

The latest Rasmussen Reports Iowa poll found Huckabee ahead with 28%, Romney with 25%, and everyone else "far behind."

Fred Has No Regrets

Fred Thompson tells CNN that his video showing fellow Republican candidates taking positions they now nuance is not negative and that he does not regret using it during the CNN/YouTube Republican debate.



Fred has a point. Maybe I was too harsh.

Scalawags And Carpetbaggers

Sons of Confederate Veterans is calling Republican presidential candidates Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney "scalawags and carpetbaggers" for their criticism of the Confederate battle flag during the CNN/YouTube Republican debate:

The group issued a statement Friday that said the road to the White House hits a dead end when candidates "smear the good name of our Southern ancestors."

Romney and Thompson were asked whether the Confederate flag represents the symbol of racism, a symbol of political ideology, a symbol of Southern heritage -- or, is it something completely different?

Romney's answer was awful. He said he doesn't recognize the stars and bars flag and managed to disrespect and disparage an important symbol, a version of which, still flies on the grounds of the South Carolina capital:

Romney: Right now, with the kinds of issues we got in this country, I'm not going to get involved with a flag like that. That's not a flag that I recognize so that I would hold up in my room.

The people of our country have decided not to fly that flag. I think that's the right thing.

(Applause)

My own view is that this country can go beyond that kind of stuff, and that instead we can do as a party what we need to do, which is to reach out to all Americans.

Every time I listen to someone like John Edwards get on TV and say there are two Americans, I just want to -- I just want to throw something at the TV, because there are not two Americas. There's one America.

We are a nation united. We face extraordinary challenges right now. And Democrats dividing us and tearing down this country are doing exactly the wrong thing.

We're succeeding in Iraq. We've got tough challenges. We can overcome them. But we do not need to have that kind of divisive talk. And that flag, frankly, is divisive, and it shouldn't be shown.

Thompson was much more respectful, but probably upset some Southerners:

Thompson: I know that everybody who hangs the flag up in their room like that is not racist. I also know that for a great many Americans it's a symbol of racism.

So, therefore, as a public place -- he's free to do whatever he wants to in his home. As far as a public place is concerned, I am glad that people have made the decision not to display it as a prominent flag, symbolic of something, at a state capitol. As a part of a group of flags or something of that nature, you know, honoring various servicepeople at different times in different parts of the country, I think that's different.

But, as a nation, we don't need to go out of our way to be bringing up things that to certain people in our country that's bad for them. [From the CNN/YouTube Republican debate transcript.]

Here's the video of the CNN/YouTube Republican debate Question 31 - What does the "stars and bars" flag represent?:



Inclusion of this question is evidence of CNN's intent to ambush the Republican Presidential candidates. What purpose does raising the Confederate battle flag serve other than to remind voters of the 2000 controversy that helped defeat John McCain? Could it be to support Hillary's position?

Romney and Thompson aren't the scalawags and carpetbaggers here.

Fred Attacks

Fred Thompson attacks his fellow Republican candidates so the Dems don't have to.



This is more of Thompson's 12th Commandment. I prefer Reagan's 11th Commandment — Never speak ill of a fellow Republican, but I'm not running.

The Iowa Race Is Close

Political Wire got an advance look at a new Strategic Vision poll in Iowa that shows Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama tied in the Democratic presidential race at 29%, with John Edwards trailing at 23%.

On the Republican side it shows, Mitt Romney barely leading with 26%, followed closely by Mike Huckabee at 24%, Rudy Giuliani at 14%, Fred Thompson at 10% and Sen. John McCain at 7%.

That's quite a move on the Republican race. Strategic Vision's previous Iowa poll found Mitt with an 11 point lead:

Mitt Romney 30%
Mike Huckabee 19%
Rudy Giuliani 12%
Fred Thompson 11%
John McCain 7%
Ron Paul 5%
Tom Tancredo 2%
Duncan Hunter 1%
Undecided 13%

The Democratic race is more settled with Hillary stalled:
Hillary Clinton 29%
Barack Obama 27%
John Edwards 20%
Bill Richardson 7%
Joseph Biden 5%
Chris Dodd 1%
Dennis Kucinich 1%
Undecided 10%

Perhaps Newt's prediction wasn't such a stretch and we can see why Hillary is bracing for a loss.

Fred Claims Fox Bias

In an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson accused the network of bias against his campaign.

During the interview, Chris Wallace pressed Thompson on how some conservatives have lambasted Thompson's campaign and showed clips of Fox conservative commentators Charles Krauthammer and Fred Barnes criticizing the former senator. Fred responded by attacking Fox:

"This has been a constant mantra of Fox, to tell you the truth." He noted that other conservatives have praised his bid for the GOP nomination and took issue with a Fox promo that focused on polling in New Hampshire, where Thompson is registering in the single digits.

He said he is running second in national polls and has been leading or tied for the lead in South Carolina for "a long, long time."

Thompson, in a firm, but measured tone, scolded Wallace: "...for you to highlight nothing but the negatives in terms of the polls and then put on your own guys who have been predicting for four months, really, that I couldn't do it, kind of skew things a little bit. There's a lot of other opinion out there."

Fred didn't come off well in the exchange, which reminded me a little of Bill Clinton's temper tantrum during a Wallace interview.

You can watch a video clip of the exchange below: