Much ado about nothing
Posted: Saturday, January 19, 2008 8:55 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
2008, Thompson
From NBC's Abby Livingston and Andy Merten and NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
It was the political equivalent of Geraldo opening Al Capone’s vault. After early South Carolina results show Thompson trailing Huckabee and McCain, MSNBC cut away from political analysis for Thompson to make an announcement. Smelling blood, political reporters and junkies held their breaths, leaning into their televisions, wondering, “Is this the night Fred Thompson is going to withdraw?”
No dice.
Instead, Thompson essentially delivered his stump speech and made little acknowledgement that there was even a race that day. A race, in fact, that he had described only eight days ago as “his stand.”
One of the more noteworthy aspects of the speech was a possible sarcastic quip, “It may be a little early to declare victory, I’m not sure…” Thompson said.
But the crowd appeared to take him literally and cheered enthusiastically. “We told our folks to vote late so they’ll still be trickling in,” he added.
A reason for the enthusiastic crowd? With their candidate's prospects for a good showing here fading with each passing moment, the campaign brought about 20 cases of Bud and Bud Light to their campaign primary watch party here to liven up the party. (They do have a liquor license, scoopers, so don't raise your eyebrows.)
About 100 diehard supporters (and curious students who heard about the beer) gathered here to await the big guy's appearance. The lolling, slow-paced country music didn't much help the somber atmosphere. "This isn't a funeral, guys!" implored Rep. Gresham Barrett in his effort to fire up the crowd before Thompson appeared.
As Thompson left the stage, he implored the crowd with mouthed words drowned out by the small but dedicated crowd chanting his name: "Stay strong."
