Thompson’s Strong Showing in Texas Straw Poll

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Thompson’s Strong Showing in Texas Straw Poll

3 September 2007

Written by: WTH Posted under Uncategorized, In the News, 2008 Elections, Polls, GOP Primary, 2008 Presidential Elections, Media Coverage

Proof, once again, that Thompson is a front runner and his “late entry” into the race is not hurting him a bit…

Thompson’s 2nd-place finish a victory in itself

By Gromer Jeffers Jr.

FORT WORTH – Rep. Duncan Hunter of California will go down as the official winner of the first-ever Texas Republican straw poll.

But what followers of politics will be talking about is former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson’s second-place finish.

His strong showing cements the actor turned presidential contender as the conservative alternative to front-runners like former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain.

When he officially announces his candidacy Thursday, Mr. Thompson will be able to point to President Bush’s home state to counter questions about his conservative credentials.

Not bad for a candidate who didn’t make any personal overtures to Texas voters because he wasn’t officially in the race.

His band of Texas “Fred Heads” picked up the slack, calling more than 3,000 potential delegates before the straw poll began. And only the ubiquitous backers of Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson bested the Fred Heads’ enthusiasm during the event.

Though not a player in the early part of the presidential sweepstakes because its primary is in March, Texas remains an essential cog in conservative politics.

If the GOP presidential contest is still competitive by the time Texans vote, Mr. Thompson would have the inside track for the huge bounty of delegates.

By then, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and other Lone Star State supporters will have the organization and resources in place to make Mr. Thompson even stronger.

Texas – and the rest of the South – could be his to lose.

Mr. Hunter’s first-place finish was predictable.

He dished out barbecue to delegates when they arrived on Friday. But it was the red meat he threw out just before the vote – on immigration and Iraq – that put him over the top.

It was Mr. Hunter’s day in the Texas sun Saturday. But ultimately, Mr. Thompson will prove the real winner.