Fred Thompson Placing All The Chips on Success In Iowa
Posted on December 9, 2007
Most recent polls in Iowa show Fred Thompson in third place. It is a slim lead over the liberal contender, Rudy Giulliani, but its been pretty solid. Fred has said that a third place slot there is all he needs to remain a contender, and that remains true. However, if he can take first place (a slim possibility) or even second place ( more realistic) it would be enough to turn some tables on momentum. We noted earlier Fred’s plans to expose Huckabee’s record on raising taxes to Iowa residents. Well, this seems to be only one leg of Thompson’s efforts. It looks like he is placing all the chips on success in Iowa. In my opinion, this is the right strategy, and success there is well within realistic reach.
FORMER TENNESSEE SENATOR Fred Thompson has decided to take his campaign and virtually all of its resources to Iowa in an all-or-nothing attempt to register a strong showing in the caucuses here on January 3. “We’re getting ready to make this not only our second home, but our first home,” he told a small gathering of supporters at the Polk County Convention Center on Friday night. Thompson and his wife Jeri chatted with the crowd before making their way through the exhibits at the Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in downtown Des Moines.
Beginning Monday, December 17, Thompson will launch a bus tour that will take him throughout the state. From the beginning of that trip through caucus night, Thompson will essentially live in Iowa, taking only a one-day trip out of the state to celebrate Christmas at his home in Virginia.
“Iowa is critical to our campaign, and it may in fact be everything to our campaign,” says one Thompson official. “If we don’t do what we need to do in Iowa, it will be tough to compete effectively down the road.”
Thompson has said publicly that he needs to finish in the top three in Iowa. Campaign officials say that a strong third place finish–presumably behind new frontrunner Mike Huckabee and former frontrunner Mitt Romney–would likely give them enough momentum to survive New Hampshire and compete in South Carolina and beyond. A second place finish would be a victory. “Just when the interest is there the greatest, is when we’ll be here the most.”
I’m thinking that the Huckaboom is about to hit reality. At least I’m hoping so. There is much that worries me about Huckabee. I’m thinking that the recent polls we are seeing are showing effects that are about to dwindle. Many well documented gaffes and revelations on Huckabee have recently came to the surface. From his record on raising taxes that the Club for Growth are about to expose full steam, to his position on wanting to close Gitmo……I think Huckabee’s surge is about to start reversing. Of course, I could be wrong.
I agree with Rick Moran:
Thompson has previously said that he must finish third in Iowa to remain viable. That prospect certainly appears within reach even if he can’t overtake Huckabee. But realistically, Thompson must exceed expectations in Iowa by finishing second in order to generate the kind of momentum that would propel his candidacy forward. And a first place finish – a remote possibility but not unimaginable – would shock the field and give the campaign a huge boost, making the candidate a contender even in states that he’s not doing well like New Hampshire and Michigan.
There is something appealing about a candidate who recognizes what needs to be done and doesn’t hesitate to try and do it. In Thompson’s case, he is putting it all on the line in Iowa in a make or break effort to achieve a breakthrough.
Not a long shot by any means but rather a recognition of the reality of a campaign that is currently in flux. And where it will settle is anyone’s guess.
I’m hoping that Fred’s late efforts in Iowa are enough to keep in him in the race. I hope that these harder efforts continue throughout the process as well. Regardless, he is doing what needs to be done. Whether it is enough is yet to be seen.
» Filed Under 1st Amendment, News, Politics As Usual
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Watch my blog for reports on Fred in the Hawkeye State…
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The Huckaboom is about to become the Huckabust…
He jokes about Immigration with Chuck Norris… then releases his Immigration reform plan… which is nothing more than a rehash of a 2005 National Review article… and he doesn’t even bother to update it… leaving references to the INS which doesn’t exist anymore…
When asked about his lack of foreign policy experience he jokes about staying at a Holiday Inn Express… then when asked about the NIE he says he hasn’t seen it… and blames his staff…
There’s his tax & spend policies in Arkansas… the parole issues that resulted the death of innocent people… yes… I’m confident…
Huckaboom will soon be Huckabust… long before the first votes are cast in Iowa.