Finally, he manages to crack the top 3...

I'll admit it, I thought he'd have made a better showing - not just in SC, but generally. I'm thankful he didn't, but I'm a little surprised.

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With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms.

From what I've read about the Thompson campaign in Iowa and SC is that they worked really hard. His crowds in SC were the most enthusiastic (according to the National Review). However (fairly or unfairly) the media has their horse race with Romney, McCain, Rudy, and Huck.

The media labeled Fred from the beginning for starting too late. In politics perception is reality. Unfortunately for most Americans they can't be bothered to parse perception from reality. Despite the fact that Fred's SC debate performance was the strongest showing by any republican.

In politics perception is reality. Unfortunately for most Americans they can't be bothered to parse perception from reality.

That explains the fact that Bush wasn't thrown out on his ear in 2004 and why there hasn't been an impeachment proceeding.

And now, a word from our sponsors...

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With the possible exception of things like box scores, race results, and stock market tabulations, there is no such thing as Objective Journalism. The phrase itself is a pompous contradiction in terms.

What was that speech about yesterday? I was mainly watching sports last night, but I did flip to election coverage every now and then.

I saw Thompson going up to give a speech very shortly after the polls closed. "That's not a good sign when you are giving a speech with only 3% of the precincts reporting," I thought.

I watched it for a couple of minutes, but it didn't seem to be going anywhere, so I moved on.

I flipped back to MSNBC a bit later. Someone said that they talked with a senior Thompson campaign person right before the aforementioned speech, and allegedly that person had no idea what Thompson was about to say.

Bizarre.

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Fred Thompson had three things working against him:

1) Expectations were too high, that he was the second coming of Ronald Reagan for Republicans.

2) His heart wasn't really in it. Sure, he gave some great debate performances but he had no taste for retail campaigning.

3) He got in too late and never set up the ground game necessary to build up support over the long haul.

Remember, the media initially loved him (remember the Aqua Velvet sexy comments). It was Bob Novak of all people who first clued the country to his underwhelming reception among conservatives. If you read the National Review on why they didn't endorse Thompson, it's quite embarrassing really. They said Fred didn't seem to care about anything - showed up late, had no specifics at the time, etc. It was the conservative media that turned on Fred first - Fox News ($1000 loafers), Novak and NR. Only later, when Fred failed to build on any real momentum that the mainstream media piled on.

here's a hilarious link about Fred:
(link...)