Fred Thompson, missing in action in N.H.

Manchester, N.H. -- With the focus of the political universe on New Hampshire today, Fred Thompson could be found in ... South Carolina.

Thompson's absence was his final bow to what long had been apparent -- he didn't take to the Granite State, and it most assuredly did not take to him. Indeed, the Tennessean pretty much sealed his poor political fate here on the day he officially entered the Republican presidential race.

As you may recall, Thompson traveled to beautiful downtown Burbank in early September to announce his candidacy during an appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." Problem was, from the point of view of many New Hampshirites, his gambit meant he wasn't on stage for a GOP debate that night in the state.

He made a few forays into New Hampshire during the weeks that followed, but his message, his style and his drawl never gained traction. As his campaign proceeded -- and the weather turned cold in Iowa (where he also put his efforts also were somewhat cursory) and New Hampshire -- Thompson increasingly focused on the South, occasionally joking to his listeners that he felt more comfortable stumping in places where voters sounded like him.

He was in New Hampshire this past weekend, mainly because ...

he couldn't avoid it -- it would have been bad form for him to skip the nationally-televised GOP debates conducted here Saturday and Sunday nights. But if he engaged in any of the "retail," person-to-person politicking so important to success in the state's primary, it went unnoticed.

His appearances today included a "Meet Fred Thompson" event at Hudson's Smokehouse in Lexington, S.C., and a similar stop in Columbia, S.C. He minced no words at the barbecue joint: "This is where we make our stand -- this is where I have chosen to make my stand," the Associated Press reported he said of South Carolina.

On Wednesday, he continues a lengthy bus tour through the state.

Back in June, when Thompson was coyly sitting on the sidelines but the buzz surrounding him was substantial, polls showed he had real potential as a national candidate. But he has since concentrated on being a regional one -- looking for strong showings in South Carolina's Jan. 19 GOP primary and Florida's Jan. 29 contest to chart a path to his party's nomination.

It's a high-risk route he's embarked upon. Much to his surprise, Thompson now has to counter another Southerner -- former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- as the Republican race moves into the region. He'll also face a potentially resurgent John McCain, the well-organized Mitt Romney, a Ron Paul movement with brigades of passionate followers in South Carolina, and a Rudy Giuliani campaign ready to fight tooth-and-nail in Florida.

Who's to say, though, that in this most unpredictable of GOP races, his version of a Southern strategy won't work?

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[megan]

Regardless of whether anyone likes to admit it or not, NH isn't a juggernaut in the big scheme of these elections. His choice to head over to SC to get some additional time in there with the voters will play a huge part in his succeeding there, which would put him right back up top. When NH voters & press stated they would punish him for having declined the Fox debates there earlier, it was obvious that he was never going to get the votes needed there, yet now the media and NH voters choose to criticize him for his decision? Let me ask...if you were the one running and you were on a limited budget, which would YOU choose to do?

[Jeff Childress]

What a sourpuss article. Most people in the OTHER 49 States wonder why you vote on such "Petty" issues as, "He did come here when WE thought he should" Waaaaaaaa Just look what you did tonight, passed up the chance for the best bet in the Dem. party and said yes to the poorest excuse for a Rep. in the field.....yep thats NH for ya

[Markustee]

I confess surprise that you did not lay waste to Fred Thompson's personna in your article. This paper is not known for being unbiased.

Perhaps you do not realize the strength that Fred Thompson is gaining throughout the nation with the moderate voters, such as myself. The message is the same, we like what Fred says, we like what he stands for, we like the fact that he actually stands for something (which is unique among all the candidates for President, red or blue,) and we don't like the way the media is ignoring that message in favor of glitz and blitz.

Wake up! Why do you think that papers all over the country are folding? Why do you think the television "news" is loosing so many viewers? The voting and spending population of this nation is maturing, and we are no longer impressed by the soap opera canned crap that is normally in the press.

Why don't you try writing a piece actually intelligently contrasting the views of the candidates?

So far, Fred Thompson has my vote - and I haven't changed my mind.

(Good thing this isn't a newspaper.)

[KYJurisDoctor]

Fred Thompson needs to REALLY get going or "it's curtains" for him!

[KYJurisDoctor]

Fred Thompson needs to REALLY get going or "it's curtains" for him!

http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2008/01/hillary-clinton-spoils-my-perfect.html#links

[Stewart Davis]

I have to say, I voted for Bill twice, I voted for GW twice and I hope to get the chance to vote for Fred at least once. I really think we´ll get some real ¨conservative¨ (not just ´Republican´) values out of Fred. If I had a criticism from the NH debate, I´d say it was that he didn´t fully respond to the core-value questions on big drug companies and potential for oil price reductions. I didn´t care for the ¨Weŕe going to have to face it, oil prices will probably go higher.¨ answer either. I personally believe with the right energy policy (more domestic exploration, more refining capacity, fight back against the enviro-lobby so we can tap our own resources, oil shale and as Fred said, ¨more Nuclear!!¨) that we could see significant price reductions and greater energy independance. But I don´t think -any- of that will come from anyone but Fred. The only thing I liked from Huckabee so far is his advocacy of the Fair Tax.. but I´m not convinced he´s serious about it.. he never really talks about it.. I think it´s just a ¨differentiator¨ for his campaign to him. We´ll see.

[DaMomb]

Due to my lack of interest in the Republican candidates, I have ignored much of the political trails. But last night while watching the republicans respond to the immigration question, I got the chance to hear old Fred and what he had to say. From that small piece of information, I was downright impressed....and YES... i am a southerner! Will definitely be watching him more closely and suggesting the same to everyone I know.