Looks like we can be certain that Fred is out:
I spoke to one of my Thompson sources.
He’s still with his ailing mother. “He’s just being a good son.”
He has not spoken to any other campaign or any other candidates, nor does he intend to at this time.
He will not endorse, I am told by this source close to Thompson.
I am also told, “he has no interest in a vice presidency or a cabinet position.” At an “appropriate time” he will outline his plans for the near future.
This source believes that the race has demonstrated that whatever happens from here on out, the GOP has to stand for consistent conservative policies across the board.At one point, I asked this source if the attitude was, ‘if you can’t be Reagan, be Goldwater,’ and the source responded, “exactly.”
If I were a betting man, I would bet on him departing the race in the not-too-distant future.
Many who have been betting the man would endorse McCain most likely have some egg on their faces now, and the whole Carl Cameron, Fox News, “he has been after a VP slot all along” meme was wrong also.
Fox News wrong once more. Shocker.
Sad, sad news but we all knew it was coming with his third place finish in SC. Now we all have to pull up our bootstraps and work to defeat Hillary/Obama at all costs.
UPDATE – 1131hrs PST
From Fred:
McLean, VA – Senator Fred Thompson today issued the following statement about his campaign for President:
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States.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.
Sad news.
See author page
Looks like another unconfirmed, single-source report to me with no official announcement yet made by the candidate himself.
The MSM and some people on the Internets have been trying to write Thompson off since before he got in. Remember Politico?
More supposition and conjecture.
We know with certainty that Mr. Thompson’s 90+ year old mother is very ill and currently hospitalized. We also know that Mr. Thompson has chosen to be at her side.
Outside of that, it’s all guesswork.
Considering the prior track record of the MSM and blogosphere on this subject specifically I’m going to choose to continue to wait for an official announcement one way or the other.
It is a sad day for conservatives but you are right now we need to work to defeat Billary/Obama. I see why he is leaving though with little money for ads in Fla. not to mention that his mother has been sick and that is what weighs on his mind the most
Indeed, a very sad day.
Sorry to see this happen.
The same message was just put on his blog at fred08.com. Now we’re forced to have to choose from the candidates we can’t stand or not vote at all. Maybe 4 years of Hillary of Obama will wake everyone up…then agian the gimme crowd is out there and will happily do anything to get something at the expense of everyone else.
Now there isn’t much left but stop McCain. Huck is essentially out.
Yes it is a sad day. I think that his mother’s health might have had moreto do with it than anything, but that is just my opinion.
We definitely need to stop Billary/Obama. As i have stated on my blog, I am for Guiliani now, even though he is far behind, but I like him better than all the rest.
But also ais I have stated, we need to get behind whoever is the Republican nominee and defeat the Socialists in the Defeatoratic Party
Any chance of a brokered convention? SAD DAY FOR WE CONSERVATIVE. I can forsee the demise of the Republican party as a conservative force.
#4 Melissa
I’m not sure we can make it 4 years of Clinton or Obama…. 🙁 To be honest I’m nto sure we can make 4 years of McCain/Huckabee/Romney/Gulliani/Paul …