Comeback Fred?
What Republican insiders and party hacks have long suspected was happening on the ground-namely that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is losing an edge most of us never believed he possessed to begin with-appears to have been confirmed in the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Giuliani now stands tied with Mike Huckabee in the national polls with John McCain and Fred Thompson coming in behind the top two.As I have pointed out before, neither Republican nor Democratic Primary strategists should use national polls as their guidepost for determining strategy this early in the game. The early Primary and Caucus States are notorious for bucking the national polls and picking the candidate that is most popular with their people. One of the biggest ways that any candidate can help bring about a positive turnout for their campaign is to go and meet the people where they are.
In weeks' past, I have been critical of the Fred Thompson campaign (which everyone knows that I support) for not keeping Fred visible in Iowa at a time when he really needs a boost. A good finish in Iowa-third or preferably higher-can keep Fred in the race. As late as this past Sunday on the air with Fabian Story I discussed just how disappointed I have been so far with the Thompson campaign. I haven't been the only one to say that Fred's "handlers" have needed to turn the real Fred loose so that people in Iowa and New Hampshire can get a glimpse of the fired-up version of Fred. In the last few days, we've seen the "real Fred" come out, and it may yield results that few were expecting.
In the wake of a stellar performance at last week's Republican debate in Des Moines, Thompson is rolling across Iowa on the "Clear Conservative Choice-Hands Down" bus tour. He is meeting with folks in out-of-the-way places in little country precincts and small towns all over the Hawkeye State. In earlier appearances on television talk shows, Thompson appeared tired and unenthused-now he looks upbeat, happy, excited, and full of energy. This isn't a new Fred Thompson, but these are shades of the Fred Thompson we know and love-and I would rather see him arrive late than not come to the ball.
Labels: Presidential Election
posted by Deacon David Oatney @ 2:06 AM
7 Comments:
David,
I have noticed the same things you have but I have to ask is this maybe a little too late? And I believe his resources would be better spent in other places. I would like nothing more than Fred to sweep super Tuesday and take it to the general. We will see if this strategy will work.
David,
Your support of Fred is really based on nothing more than a romantic, sentimental image you and other supporters have created in your heads concerning him. His 'Super Tuesday' strategy is almost the same as Rudy's and will be, I think, just as productive (as in NOT). What Fred is doing now he should have started doing a long time ago. He wants it but not enough to work for it. Running for President means you RUN! Doing a good ol' boy country mosey won't do it. Stick a fork in him - he's done.
SteveMule
PS Huckabee's going to be the big surprise, if he isn't already.
Steve;
Remember the tortoise and the hare...
David;
It's nice to see you back on the bandwagon.
You keep telling us you support Fred, but what action have you taken to back up your claim?
Donation? Widgets? Letters to the Editor? Phone Bank? Anything?
David,
It's just too late - Fred's dead. Too little to late. Others have grabbed the mojo (what little there is on the R side) and are running with it. What conservatives were looking for they seemed to have found in Huckabee (for the moment at least).
SteveMule
Renee;
All of my personal resources for the 2008 election campaign will be going into one campaign that I have chosen: My own. I don't live in a town where there are large numbers of potentially wealthy donors to help fund my race for Alderman, so that means that I am going to have to donate to myself-and yard signs are REALLY expensive. I'm sure I'll have a few donors, and I might even hold a fundraiser. Some of the folks will be giving to me and not to other candidates (including Fred), of that I am quite sure-everyone only has so much to go around.
I know you'll understand how difficult it is to campaign for local office and depend on your own resources and the small sacrifices of others whenever you decide to run-I wish you great success in that endeavor whenever it comes.
Fred has around 70% support among Republicans here heading into Primary Day on February 5th and has gotten 90% of his money and volunteers from here. Even his lead blogger (Truman Bean of Conservatives for Corker) is a Tennessean. You'll note the link to Truman's blog for Fred in my sidebar.
Tennessee has stepped it up for Fred in a big way and if Fred is still in the race come February 5th, you can already bank that he will carry at least one State on that day when the nomination COULD be decided.
I'll be in line at 9AM that morning ready to cast my vote for Fred.
David, et al.,
Tennessee has not steppped it up for Fred. Certain Tennesseans in certain parts of Tennessee have stepped it up. It will do no good. Fred is a flop (not a tortise or a hare, just a flop) - a perfect example of romantic expectations getting trumped by the substance of reality. It just isn't going to work. By now most have made up their minds that Fred is going no where and they have either decided for someone else OR have, at least, decided against himn (as reflected in polling from early states).
One more thing: The Tennessee Primary (R or D) doesn't decide the candidate(s), it decides the delegates for the party's respective national convention. We'll have a REAL good idea who the candidates will be by the end of Super Tuesday and they won't be Fred, Kucinch, or Ron Paul.
SteveMule
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