From The Road
January 15, 2008 1:56 PM

Thompson Handicaps GOP Race From S.C.

By
John Bentley
Topics
Fred Thompson
(CBS)
From CBS News' John Bentley:

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- While the rest of his Republican counterparts made their case in Michigan for tonight's primary, Fred Thompson continued his bus tour of South Carolina.

"They're up there fighting the blizzards in Michigan and I'm down here in South Carolina," he said. "Now who's most qualified to be president with judgment like that?"

Thompson has skipped both the New Hampshire and Michigan primaries in favor of "drawing a line in the sand" in South Carolina, where one of his main opponents could be Mitt Romney – especially if Romney wins in Michigan.

"Undoubtedly it will recharge him a little bit, but he seems to have a lot of recharging to do," Thompson said about Romney. "I don't know if it'll make up enough ground for him or not."

But from looking at the polls, Thompson thinks his main competition will not be from the former Massachusetts governor. "I thought it would probably be Huckabee, but now it looks like it's going to be McCain," he said.

Add a Comment
by westmariner January 16, 2008 1:03 PM EST
dshoup3... Its actually Mike that is striking back angrily at Fred. Fred took him to task at Myrtle Beach and he still hasn''t answered to the contrasts. He has come up with alot more jokes and stayed at a Holiday inn. Now the "unsupported" push polls that are targeting Fred. They are more soundbites of old non issues that have been openly answered by Mr. Thompson months ago. Records show who is more conservative and truthful to their supporters. I''m a christian but think most of Huckabee''s supporers are people that like that he wears his religeon on his shoulder. Think about it. Your frustrated that George W Bush has forgotten you like he has us!! Vote Fred for a realistic Future.
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by kennethklay January 16, 2008 3:52 AM EST
Romney and Thompson are the most conservative republicans in the race. I''d like to see them finish 1 and 2 in South Carolina.
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by marinepatriot January 16, 2008 3:38 AM EST
I just watched Governor Huckabee''s speech after the Michigan Primary. Wow. I have never seen a more compassionate, caring man that loves America and her people as much as he does. If you have time, please watch it. He is what America is about.
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by almanojodo January 16, 2008 2:43 AM EST
ROMNEY and Thompson are the only TRUE Republican candidates. But Romney has more expertise in economics. He is a skilled negotiator who knows how to manage in our global economy. Romney knows how to create and hold jobs. A strong economy is fundamental to attaining all other goals. Since Romney is the man who can deliver,a vote for Romney is a vote for a better future.
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by Ruidu January 16, 2008 2:30 AM EST
Fred Thompson is only trying to hide his weak accomplishments by expressing himself forcefully against Huckabee!
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by wendy731 January 15, 2008 9:42 PM EST
It is amazing that only Romney has been a force in every State. He has kept the pressure on all the rest the field. That might be an important skill to have as President of the United States.

There just isn''t a better candidate for President than Mitt Romney. I have been amazed at hard pressed the media has been to find anything negative to share about him. They try and twist his record, but everyone knows that records stand against scrutiny if they are solid. Mitt Romney is solid.
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by denn034 January 15, 2008 9:24 PM EST
Go Thompson!
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by af9115 January 15, 2008 9:08 PM EST
Fred Thompson is enjoying a great surge in South Carolina. Each time he does another event the crowds are getting larger and larger. His donations have been incredible, increasing by the thousands per hour. His new supporters have slowed down his web site to a snails pace. Go to Fred08.com and you will see videos of people who are flipping for Fred at every event. The MSM is even now sitting up and taking notice where before he was blacked out. He will win SC and move his momentum from there on forward.
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by JedMerrill January 15, 2008 6:14 PM EST
Politics are so fun.

If Mitt wins Michigan, he will be formidable in South Carolina. The only reason so many people are backing McCain is they don''t want Huckabee, who, by the way, got less than half of even the Evangelical vote in Iowa. I was there.

Winning Michigan will again make Mitt a credible threat to Huckabee, which will syphon off support for McCain.

Mitt is our strongest candidate by far. We need a President who can stand up to the challenge of our domestic issues. I support Bush and fought under him in Iraq, but I would prefer a candidate who is smart enough to focus on what really matters--America. McCain and Giuliani won''t do that because they are as ego driven as Bush. (They have to live up to tough guy images.) Mitt will run, and win, on the merits of his industry and what he brings to AMERICA.

There is a reason he is winning the popular vote to date, not even counting Wyoming where he won by a landslide. (About 70% of all votes.)
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