Fox News says it is official and that Fred Thompson has dropped out.
Fred Thompson dropped his presidential bid Tuesday, after the former Tennessee senator and actor finished third in the South Carolina primary and was unable to score a victory in any of the early primaries or caucuses.
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. 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,” Thompson said in a statement.
The GOP candidate has begun calling friends, family members and supporters to tell them he’s ended his campaign, four months after he formally announced his White House bid. The momentum behind his delayed entrance into the race steadily diminished as his GOP rivals racked up victories in early test states.
I honestly thought he would do better than he did.
I was very disappointed. Not only was Fred the only real conservative candidate this year, he was consistent and showed strong moral character. I’m not sure how he reached this decision, but with Huckabee out of money, I’m not so sure he didn’t still have a strong opportunity to succeed.
I really don’t know what to do now… I need time to think about it.
I’m not sure how he reached this decision, …
Probably because the votes just weren’t there and, without votes, the money started drying up. I think he did the right thing, withdrawing now with some dignity.
Well … bugger.
I’d kind of hoped that he’d of hung to be the consensus candidate at a brokered convention. Knew it wouldn’t happen, of course, but hoped.
Really think he got a bad break by remaining traditional (in timing, messages, etc.) in a year when everybody and their dog started campaigning so damn early. When he did get in he started slow, like candidates used to do, and media (who had been building up their own expectations) were unhappy with the lack of stunts and sound-bites.
He’s got my respect for trying, though. I do wish his platform had gotten more press. People say they want to hear about issues, but they really don’t seem to.
Grumble, grumble, grumble saith the Pinky.
He ran a lackluster campaign that really highlighted what everyone said was his most serious downside – laziness. Had he been more aggressive I think he could have taken a lot of Huckabee’s support just because he was more well known – being a famous TV actor and all.
Perhaps, another candidate (maybe Romney) will think that Fred Thompson’s classic conservative stances were pretty good, even if Fred’s campaign plan, etc. wasn’t.
Laziness or perhaps lack of interest? This campaign is, as mentioned above, a series of sound-bites and antics at these silly debates. Perhaps being required to raise your hand like a school boy with the likes of Ron Paul while being asked inane questions was disagreeable to Fred. He did the best with the situation but I don’t think he felt good about it.
I wouldn’t run for President if it was all paid in advance. The job stinks.
Now who am I going to vote for in the Md. primary.
I wonder if Aristide called and offered his condolences?
In another post you mention that you try not to discuss the various candidates, but I sense a clear bias towards Thompson. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet” etc.