Updated: S.C. Paper Editor Asks Thompson to Drop Out
GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- The editorial page editor of the largest newspaper in South Carolina is asking Fred Thompson to drop out of the Republican nomination and endorse John McCain.
"It's time for him to do the principled thing," writes The State's editorial page director, Brad Warthen. "He should bow out, and support McCain. And he should do it now; now is when he can make a difference."
The editorial from the Columbia, South Carolina, paper comes at a time when Thompson is getting ready to focus all of his attention on South Carolina, after finishing third in Iowa and admitting he is "not competitive" in New Hampshire.
Thompson has previously accused rival campaigns of trying to suppress his voters, and some inside his camp believe that's what happened in this editorial.
"Senator Thompson, regardless of what rival campaigns might say or hope, is excited to bring his consistently conservative message and record to the voters of South Carolina," the campaign said in a statement.
"Senator Thompson will kick off his South Carolina bus tour this week with the same energy and grassroots campaigning that allowed him to defy the pundits and pollsters in Iowa."