Rudy Giuliani has been collecting endorsements for quite a while. Tommy Thompson is among them.
But today, Giuliani got the "mother of all endorsements" for a Republican candidate -- Pat Robertson. WASHINGTON -- Televangelist Pat Robertson today endorsed Republican presidential candidate Rudolph W. Giuliani, saying the former New York mayor's promises to appoint conservative judges and protect Americans "from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists" should trump conservatives' concerns about Giuliani's support of abortion rights.
Robertson's endorsement came one day after another prominent social conservative, Paul Weyrich, endorsed Giuliani rival Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, a social conservative who ended his own GOP presidential bid earlier this fall, today endorsed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
Taken together, the endorsements suggest that abortion may not prove to be a top-tier issue in the wide-open Republican race -- and that top evangelical figures will divide their support among multiple contenders.
Social conservatives also demonstrated a willingness to eschew longtime abortion opponents such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson in favor of candidates who either support abortion rights (Giuliani) or are converts to the antiabortion side (Romney).
Robertson said national security and concerns about federal spending should be top priorities. "To me, the overriding issue before the American people is the defense of our population from the blood lust of Islamic terrorists," he said. "Our second goal should be the control of massive government waste and crushing federal deficits."
Giuliani, appearing with Robertson at the National Press Club, said: "His confidence in me means a lot. His experience and advice will be a great asset to me and my campaign."
This has to frighten the Dems.
They were counting on the Christian Right being so disenchanted with the Republican field of candidates that they'd sit out the election.
They were counting their chickens before they hatched. ____________________
Statement By Pat Robertson At Press Conference Announcing His Endorsement Of Rudy Giuliani For President
Gary Bauer's reaction to Robertson's endorsement of Giuliani
Former '08 presidential candidate and 4-term governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president.Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will pick up the endorsement Friday of former GOP rival Tommy Thompson, a one-time Midwestern state governor.
“Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader. He can and will win the nomination and the presidency. He is America’s mayor, and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership,” Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor, said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.
The former New York mayor is to accept the endorsement in South Carolina later Friday.
Thompson is the first former 2008 Republican presidential candidate to endorse in the race, and officials familiar with details of the political courting involved said Giuliani’s top rivals also sought his support. But Thompson recently told Giuliani he’d get the nod after several weeks of conversations.
The timing of Thompson's endorsement announcement probably has something to do with Giuliani's upcoming visit to Milwaukee on October 18.
He has a $1000 per person fundraiser scheduled.Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani plans to visit Milwaukee on October 18th for a $1,000 per person fundraiser.
He is scheduled to speak at a luncheon at the University Club of Milwaukee. Donors are asked to contribute $2,300 each to be a co-host and attend a photo reception.
I consider Thompson's endorsement to be significant.
It may not make much difference among Wisconsin voters. Thompson's support for Giuliani may not convince many Wisconsinites to jump on Giuliani's bandwagon. That's not the point.
I think Thompson's move has more of an impact nationally.
It is of note that former presidential candidate PRO-LIFE Thompson has picked Giuliani.
I think his endorsement shows that pro-lifers are willing to back a not so socially conservative candidate.
On Sunday, Tommy Thompson made it official.
It's over. He's out of the '08 presidential race.
From The New York Times:After a sixth-place finish in Saturday’s Iowa Straw Poll, Tommy Thompson, the four-term governor of Wisconsin and former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said he was ending his presidential bid.
Mr. Thompson’s campaign issued a statement tonight confirming his decision to drop out of the race:
“I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country,” Mr. Thompson said in the statement. “I have no regrets about running. I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as President, but I respect the decision of the voters. I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America.”
Read more of the statement from Thompson's campaign here.
And from Fox 6:
Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race for the presidency in 2008 Sunday. He spoke with FOX 6's Ted Perry about his decision to drop out.
Thompson told Perry, "I'm outta the race."
He says, "my campaign was completely shocked. We absolutely thought we were coming in second [at the Iowa Straw Poll]. We had no doubt in our minds. The worst we thought we'd come in was third and it didn't happen that way. Something happened between the 50-yard line and the goal line. They pulled a reverse on us and we didn't see it coming."
Thompson says he's happy he got in the race. He brought many several issues to the forefront including Iraq. While Thompson isn't endorsing any Republican candidate for president yet, he has been approached by some of them.
Perry asked Thompson if he plans on having his name on a ballot again.
Thompson joked, "I still plan on running for mayor of Elroy." (Elroy is Thompson's hometown.)
He was serious when he said that he would "never say never" as far as running for elected office again. He left the door open.
Thompson really was remarkably poised and philosophic about his failed campaign.
He was disappointed but without regrets. He was pleased that he was able to get his message out even if the voters didn't turn out for him.
The Thompson campaign press release states:Thompson will return to the private sector as well as his non-profit work after a brief time off.
"I have very much enjoyed my years in public service and I am comforted by the fact that I think I made a difference for people during that time. I hope to continue working to serve others over the next few years," said Thompson.
Thompson should be proud of all that he's accomplished.
Unfortunately, ideas, experience, dedication, and working tirelessly aren't enough to give one a chance at becoming the president.
Money and media attention are everything.
That's too bad.
Tommy Thompson decided to put all his eggs in Iowa's basket.
He went to all of Iowa's 99 counties to woo voters.
Of course he wanted to win but he would have been satisfied with a place or show finish.
WisPolitics reports that Tommy had told IowaPolitics.com that he expected to finish somewhere in the top three, along with Mitt Romney and Sam Brownback.
It didn't happen.
Results
1 Mitt Romney
2 Mike Huckabee
3 Sam Brownback
4 Tom Tancredo
5 Ron Paul
6 Tommy Thompson
7 Fred Thompson
8 Rudy Guiliani
9 Duncan Hunter
10 John McCain
11 John Cox
From the Associated Press: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won an easy and expected victory in a high-profile Iowa Republican Party Straw Poll on Saturday, claiming nearly twice as many votes as his nearest rival.
Romney had been expected to win the test because he spent millions of dollars and months of effort on an event that was skipped by two of his major rivals.
Romney scored 4,516 votes, or 31.5 percent, to outpace former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who had 2,587 votes, or 18.1 percent. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback was third with 2,192 votes, 15.3 percent.
...The biggest loser of the evening likely was former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who finished in 6th place with 1,039 votes. He had said repeatedly that if he didn't finish in the top two his campaign was likely to end. He left the event before the results were announced.
In Milwaukee, his campaign said Thompson would make an announcement about his future within 48 hours.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, it won't take that long.Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson's campaign signaled tonight that he would end his presidential bid Sunday, a day after his 6th place finish in the Iowa Republican Party's straw poll.
Steve Grubbs, his senior national adviser, said a formal statement would be released Sunday.
Still, Grubbs made plain that Thompson would call it quits.
"The governor said from the beginning that if he didn't do well in the straw poll that it was unlikely that he would continue," he said. "Without a strong finish, it will be next to impossible to raise the money necessary to keep the campaign going forward."
Grubbs said Thompson "left everything on the court. He gave it everything he had. This time, it wasn't good enough."
..."He's very disappointed," Grubbs said. "He worked hard enough to earn a better finish, but he understands that sometimes the dynamics aren't there."
"I am personally devastated," Grubbs added. "I think he's one of the great American leaders of the last half-century and I think he has earned a spot much higher than he placed."
Tommy certainly gave it his best shot.
I think he earned a spot higher than sixth, too. He has so much more experience than others in the race, including winner Mitt Romney. I have nothing against Iowans, but I don't think they should have so much power when it comes to the political future of the country. It's weird that a goofy straw poll in Ames can make or break a candidate. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I really wish Tommy would have challenged Herb Kohl in 2006, but he obviously had his eyes on the top executive position in the land.
I would love to see him run against Feingold in 2010. I think a U.S. Senate seat is his for the taking.
If he really wants to serve the people and not his ego, there's a place for Tommy.
