GOP Nominee
Former Candidates
Thompson Thanks Supporters, Exits Presidential RaceMadison - Saying he has ‘no regrets’, Governor Tommy Thompson thanked his supporters Saturday night and officially left the campaign trail.
“I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country,” said Thompson. “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.”
Thompson, who was elected to serve four terms as Wisconsin Governor and four years as Secretary of Health and Human Services, began exploring a presidential bid last December. Weeks ago, he told supporters and the news media that if he did not do well in the Iowa Straw Poll, he would step aside and leave others to work for the Republican nomination.
“No candidate is more experienced than Governor Thompson and no candidate worked harder; but sometimes the dynamics just aren’t there to bring about a victory,” said Steve Grubbs, Senior Advisor to Thompson’s campaign. “The Governor’s staff was deeply committed to him and to his candidacy. If we could have willed a victory, we would have.”
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.
PAID FOR BY TOMMY THOMPSON FOR PRESIDENT
Hat Tip: Reader JayPe
August 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Thanks Jason,
Well, good on Thompson for giving it a go. He can go back to having a normal life, and everyone else will move on as the race keeps going (and going)…
August 12th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
[...] post by Jason Bonham and software by Elliott [...]
August 12th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Now if we can jettison Paul, Tancredo, Brownback, and Hunter (fine folks all) we can get down to business with meaninfgul debates featuring candidates with an actual chance.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
It looks like the YouTube debate is back on according to Drudge’s headline.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I wonder who is 1% of support is going to go too?
August 12th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
4. Oops. Essential reads already had that.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
(#5) Who votes for TThompson?
- those for whom healthcare is the most important issue (Mitt probably picks these up)
- those for whom electability is most important, and thought a Great Lakes Governor ith Admin experience was ideal (Rudy & Bill Richardson get that vote).
August 12th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Wouldn’t Rudy get the healthcare voters go to Rudy since he has the best plan out?
August 12th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I wish the man well. But does this mean breast,colon and prostate cancer is not going to be cured by dates certain now?
August 12th, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Yay!
August 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
9. *are not
August 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Iowa,
I guess people can judge the healthcare plans of each candidate and make their decision. But for those who don’t study candidates detailed plans, they’ll go for the one who has a record on the issue (e.g. Rudy = terrorism, Tancredo = immigration). Mitt’s healthcare plan in MA is well known, and will presumably mean he’s the likely “health” vote.
Mind you, we’re only talking about 20 votes here, right?
August 12th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Can’t blame the guy for trying. He had a good record as Governor. Unfortunately, his bad debate performances probably nixed any chance he had at a Veep slot.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
It’s a shame Tommy seems to have no interest in the Senate. Unlike Huckabee who is personality first, issues second, Tommy is the kind of experienced policymaker that would be great in the Senate. As a fan of his health care plan, I hope he reconsiders in order to help advance free market solutions to health care in the Senate. Especially if it means taking Russ Feingold out in the process.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
So make that three potential Senate candidates from the primary field in 2008.
Here is what I have so far:
Huckabee - Arkansas
Tancredo - Colorado
Thompson - Wisconsin
anyone else?
August 12th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
Thank you Tommy! I hope others soon follow your lead. I’d like the field narrowed to Mitt, Huck, Fred, and Rudy. I’m most excited about Mitt for president, and what Huckabee might be able to do for Social Conservatism.
Mitt = competent, steady growth
Huck = passionate, social conservative
Fred = nothing yet, though I’ll continue waiting
Rudy = ruthless (his children and Osama), American hero (kind of like FORD and GM, they have massive problems, but you’re not sure they’ll ever go down).
August 12th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
There have been polls in Iowa showing Tommy with as much as 7% of the vote. This is not negligible. Not a single percentage point is.
That said, it’s time to take him out of the Power Rankings. Kavon? Kavon, take him out and put Cox in, dammit!
As JS and I determined last night: Republicans want Cox!
August 12th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
14 — Steve, Tommy hates Washington. He hated being Secretary of Health and Human Services, and liked doing his own thing. The Senate is not for him. Could he win? Yeah, he could probably win. But he won’t run because he’d despise every minute of it.
August 12th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
17. You and JS’s little rift during last nights lull in tabulation pretty much disgusted me. Does anyone else on this board feel the same?
Your gay sexual innuendos for about an hour while we were waiting to hear results was pretty repulsive and offensive. Never mind the republi-pukes and all of that.
I would have thought some admin. would have, at least, given a warning or stopped the degrading conversation.
August 12th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Tommy’s 7% of the vote in Iowa would go to Mitt probably. After all, Tommy spent heaps of time in the state, just like Mitt. They’re unlikely to support candidates who minimise Iowa’s political clout.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
And then there were ten (not including John Cox). My proposed rankings list:
1st Rudy Giuliani - Still leads nationally and fundraising is good.
2nd Mitt Romney - Ames win puts distance from the pack but needs better national numbers.
3rd Fred Thompson - Announce already and get it over with!
4th John McCain - Name recognition seems to be the biggest thing going for him now.
5th Mike Huckabee - Organization and recognition finally gaining speed for Huckabee.
6th Newt Gingrich - Less likely to go all the way with each passing day.
7th Sam Brownback - Sam’s tenacity far exceeds his bankroll but not expectations.
8th Tom Tancredo - The tank beats out Ron Paul and is within striking distance of Brownback.
9th Ron Paul - He seemingly has the internet supporting him, too bad you can’t vote online.
10th Duncan Hunter - Good debate performances but no major grassroots puts him a hair behind Ron.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Scott, we were mocking someone else for using the term “repukelican.” We were making fun of the laughably bad play on words.
HELLO? I’m a Republican! I’m a small-l libertarian who is also a Republican! I support Giuliani! I campaigned for Bush in 2004 and Steele and Ehrlich in 2006! Even if you did think it was me making the “Repukelican” jokes, shouldn’t you have realized in about five nanoseconds that it wasn’t me?
I think “repulsive” is a little hyperbolic when describing the Cox jokes. Maybe if I were a so-con, I’d understand? Lighten up, c’mon. Who on Earth would it be degrading to, if it’s so degrading?
BarkTwiggs — Ron Paul got about 800 more votes than Hunter and raised 2 million more dollars. You can’t seriously think he’s only a “hair” above him.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Agree with TLG, Ron comfortably exceeded Hunter at Ames. Hunter was sitting in the low 1% range with the 3 non-attendees. Not a good place to be.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
TLG,
Well, at least we can agree on order. Originally, I had Duncan above Ron Paul, but switched the two when I realized Duncan Hunter really had nothing going for him except experience in congress. In my mind though, they have about roughly equal chance of winning the Republican nomination.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
22. Your giggling with your friend about republicans for “cox” for way too long on this site is proof of your infantile sense of humor. I don’t care what your stated position is, it’s what you you show yourself to be that degrades you.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:13 am
Scott, I have quite a few different senses of humor, one of which is a twelve-year-old boy’s. Don’t most of us have a bit of twelve-year-old boy in us? What’s degrading to me is that you have to be so self-righteous as to pretend to be seriously offended by a joke that you probably heard approximately ten billion times in middle school. I mean, seriously. It’s not as if I come around here and say absolutely nothing substantiative. Far from it — I’ve been one of the most serious commenters at R408 for months.
BarkTwiggs — I suppose we could agree on order. I think one could make the case for Tancredo and Paul being tied. I think Brownback is down there with Paul, too. If Paul would have exhausted half a million dollars like Brownback did, he would have gotten 15%, too. But Paul received more votes than tickets his campaign bought. Brownback’s supporters weren’t willing to shell out the $35. Paul’s were. Paul also raised a million dollars more than Brownback, and their poll numbers are similar. Paul has more of a national following than Brownback does, too, and he doesn’t have to compete with anyone else for any particular constituency. So I’d say that Paul may actually be above Brownback.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:47 am
TLG, interesting call.
Whats clear is that Paul’s cult following puts him at least level with Tancredo (who has the identical status). However, Brownback’s “more likely” status (Senator not Congressman) has gone. He has no natural constituency to fall back on, as “solid social conservative” is now occupied by Huckabee.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:18 am
Ron Paul has two first names…you can’t trust him!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:03 am
Two first names? You mean a last name that could also be a first name…
Giuliani, McCain, Thompson, Romney, Huckabee, Brownback, Gingrich, Tancredo, Hunter, Cox … I suppose you’re right! He’s the only one with a last name that could also function as a first. Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Biden, Dodd, Kucinich, Gravel…
Is “Obama” a first name anywhere in the worl d?
August 13th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Sure, it’s a firstie, firstie.
But it could be worse.
It could be a firstie, firstie, girlie, girlie.
example: Chris Shannon
August 13th, 2007 at 6:43 am
I’ve met people named Hunter.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:55 am
One more strike out on Ron Paul’s journey to the White House.
He spend $200,000 on Iowa and raised over $100,000 in that 1 week he was campaigning there.
He scored 10,000 more volunteers after ABC debate. Now having 30,000 altogether.
I hope media will notice he is not a 1% candidate.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Matt — Oh, I guess you’re right. I guess I have met one person named Hunter, too. Hm.
August 14th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Scott,
In the immortal words of Mitt Romney:
“Lighten up slightly.”
August 14th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Anyway, so, yeah, yeah, Tommy Thompson is utterly shocked that he didn’t come in first at the straw poll and has left the field with his hand on his forehead, staring blankly at the ground, shaking his head, and muttering incoherently.
My only question is: When’s Hunter going? (174 votes, below even Rudy and Fred, ouch.)