Marc Ambinder reports that Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson has told several Republicans that he has decided to drop out of the presidential race and will make public his intentions by close of business.
Thompson does not plan to endorse any rivals for now, even though one of his best friends is Sen. John McCain.
He’s been visiting his mother, who is ill, in Tennessee.
UPDATE: It’s official…
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States.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.”
Ambinder reflects with the following:
He was NOT lazy; his command of policy equaled or exceeded that of his rivals, and he was, as he said, pretty clearly a consistent conservative for his public life. But his staff was poorly managed; it started much too late; his campaign was riven by internal fueds and suspicions: one faction accused the other of leaking to reporters.
He had a nomination strategy that was plausible enough: do well in Iowa, build a bridge to South Carolina, earn delegates everywhere, defeat a single rival handily on Feb. 5 in the Southern states, and earn the establishment’s backing.
Demographically, he alienated Republican women. Mike Huckabee effectively shut off his support in Iowa and South Carolina. In truth, he could have campaign a little more and emphasized retail, rather than stump speeches. He did not raise as much money as he could have, in part because so many donors wondered whether his heart was in the race.
And in many ways, he tried to occupy a space that John McCain more credibly occupied; national security strength, straight talk on the economic challenges facing the country and resiliency.
PS: Mitt just won Nevada’s primary today by the widest margin of victory so far in the 08 campaign. On the dem side – Hillary bested Obama and really trounced him among latino voters which is a good sign for her. With 78% reporting and a six-point lead, Fox called it for Hillary. The effect of this on the SC race next week will be interesting. Expect Obama to appeal to black voters there to be his firewall.
Just before the Michigan Primary this week, Matt Romney decided to take a some pressure off his dad with a little comic relief.
So what did he do? he prank called his dad Mitt Romney using an Arnold Schwarzenegger soundboard. Mitt is clearly trying to be gracious at first when the awkward questions from Ahhhnolds movies start rolling. He finally realizes its bullshit and hangs up and gives a priceless “wtf just happened?” look as he attempts to figure it out in his head. After all, its not like his private campaign line is in the phone book – making the surprise aspect even better.
Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed her traveling press corps aboard her campaign plane Wednesday with a humorous riff on the standard flight attendant speech familiar to commercial air travelers.
“Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard the maiden flight of Hil Force One,” Clinton said over the plane’s intercom as it taxied down the runway en route from Las Vegas to Reno, Nev.
“My name is Hillary and I am so pleased to have most of you on board,” she said. “FAA regulations prohibit the use of any cell phones, Blackberries or wireless devices that may be used to transmit a negative story about me.
“In a few minutes, I am going to switch off the ‘Fasten Your Seat Belt’ sign. However, I’ve learned lately that things can get awfully bumpy when you least expect it—so you might want to keep those seat belts fastened.
“And in the event of an unexpected drop in poll numbers, this plane will be diverted to New Hampshire.
“If you look out from the right, you will see an America saddled with tax cuts for the wealthiest and a war without end. If you look out from the left, you will see an America with a strong middle class at home and a strong reputation in the world.
“Once we’ve reached cruising altitude, we’ll be offering in-flight entertainment: my stump speech.
“Once again, thank you for joining us on Hil Force One. We know you have choices when you fly, and so we are grateful that you chose the plane with the most experienced crew. And so we are grateful that you chose the plane with the most experienced candidate.”
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