CNN

Looks like the reporter failed to mention that Romney's schedule took him to the same towns, at the same time (or 30 minutes before), as Thompson's schedule, which had been released weeks earlier. So for two days, each had 4-6 events/day, with head-to-head battles most of the day. Think Romney's campaign scheduled their stops in the same towns at the same time, day after day, by mere co-incidence? Ridiculous. While I agree the comment is silly, my guess is that the reporter picked up one or two sentences of a longer response to her own question, and made this "story" out of it. Thompson has been on a month-long tour of the state, and probably is picking up some support–the Des Moines Register recently called him the only serious contender to Romney in the Iowa Straw Poll coming up in Ames on August 11th. I went and listened to both of them in Okoboji, and Thompson actually had a larger crowd.

Only thing more ridiculous than the story are the comments.

Not even a one-issue candidate.

Just really pathetic. A true crybaby

Maybe Romney thought he was following Fred Thompson, and not Tommy.

TT raised $500,000 in the second quarter – compared to around $30,000,000 for the Democratic frontrunners – so he has to troll around his neighboring state in a bus, pretending that he is a presidential candidate. He can't afford anything more.

Thompson is a dolt – not that that disqualifies him in the Republican Party – but, even they know he's a loser.

OK, Tommy, you win. We'll let you have the exclusive title as the "True Bus Tour Conservative" in the race.

Hope it makes you feel better. Wow, man. Just, wow.

For your sake, I really hope CNN did a wicked splice and spin job to give that story its ring. Otherwise, refer to comment above.

Too bad Sam Brownback had a bus tour long before both!

What an amazing and original idea Tommy had there to run around Iowa on a bus campaigning!! I don't think I've ever heard of anyone ever doing that in the history of American politics! wink, wink!

I guess Ole' Tommy has hit his low point, doing and saying whatever it takes to get a headline. It's time for Tommy and few others from the Republican and Democratic field to take their 1% followings and fade from the field of viable candidates.

L.R. – You're thinking of the other Thompson, Fred Dalton not Tommy, when referring to the "Trophy Wife". Secretary Tommy Thompson has been married to the same woman since the late sixties or the early seventies.

That being said, what a ridiculious assesment. My respect for T. Thompson has gone down with this assesment. For a guy who won consecutive elections in Wisconsin he doesn't seem to have any idea how elections work if this is the way he thinks

What a big baby...and he wants to be President! Maybe it's Alzheimers.?

He should go home to his trophy wife and cry!!

And he's in the presidential race because....?

He inspires no confidence in his leadership abilities and has no message. Drop out, already!

He's copying me? What is this, grade school?

This guy would be better at cleaning a stable

As an Iowan, the most important trait we look for in a candidate is their ability to claim to be the "first" to use a campaign bus tour. Thank you, Tommy, for addressing this extremely critical issue.

Thompson will be the next guy to drop out probably.

Another bad choice. Neither would help undo the damage that Chaney Inc. has done to this country and western civilization. They went in and got the polps out of Bush's butt, now suction the sawdust out of this crew's heads. Sure, blame the guys with a 1 vote margin in the Sneate for lack of progress. My dream campaign – Gravel against Ron Paul. And both ask Nader to be VP.

I've never heard of this guy. It's sad to hear a man talk trash about an opponent he could never hope to beat, talking up a plainly unoriginal stunt that seems outdated. Go home, "other Thompson."

I think he really needs to calm down. This next president very well might be the most important presidential campaign in history. There are some of the most pressing issues in history on the front line right now, including abortion, immigration, Iraq, etc. and this guy is getting all bent out of shape because another candidate is in the same state and they're both doing a bus tour. Are you kidding me? This is like the same argument I had with people when I was like 10. I can't believe this. These are the people we'll be leaving the fate of the country for the next 4 to 8 years. I'll be honest, it scares me.

Grow up, Tommy. You didn't invent the bus tour yourself.

Go tell your Mommy. She'll make it all better.

Over the long run, those who avoid throwing mud and are even kind in their words are the real winners (even if they don't "win").

kind of remiinds of when al gore invented the internet. now all the sudden tommy has invented ot bus tour in an iowa presidential candidate race

even assumign which is an almost impossible stretch that he won iowa. what then. he can't win any other state. you have to have a little more staying power than one state.

too late for the second tier to breack through or at leasts it is getting close to too late. can't wait until ames so we can get rid of some of these candidates.

He was terrible as Governor of WI, terrible as Secretary of Health and Human services, and in all situations Tommy always finds a way to point blame in a direction other than himself, typical politician. This whole early campaign push strategy is waste of peoples time and money, more debates, more real dialog not just all this posturing and pandering, ridiculous.

I wonder if he conferred with his campaign manager or anyone else prior to accusing the other candidate of copying him. Anyone that can afford it can take a bus tour across Iowa if they
choose to. The people want to hear what your campaign is about not your childish complaints.

This is so ridiculous, I really can't stop laughing. Thompson for sure is a loser in denial!

Thompson was an awful governor. Wisconsin has been struggling to recover from the giant deficit/debt he created (and used "voodoo accounting" to hide until after he left office).

And now Thompson invented the bus tour? (All the people who had such a good time picking on Gore about the Internet, should be just atwitter with excitement about their new opportunity for crude mockery.)

After this blubbering, why anyone would consider this guy for president is beyond me.

Tommy Thompson should just do us all a favor and drop out of the race already. He is quite possibly the most pathetic candidate ever.

Ah, the refreshing site of another political baby that never grew up, hurling a mud-slinging curve ball with the hopes of showing how much "better" they are over their opponent(s).

This bull makes a 5 year old appear mature. I wonder what would happen if we took their toys away.

Sounds slightly familiar...

"I invented the internet." – Al Gore

Thompson is a dope. Romney is the only candidate that really trys to connect with the general public.

Tommy crying to Mommy.......what an outstanding GOP standard bearer!

Tommy who?

What a crybaby! Sure, Tommy, NO ONE has EVER taken a bus tour across the first caucus state in the nation, no sir!

Just drop out of the race so that the real Republican candidates can have more time to talk during the debates, Tommy. You're a waste of our time.

so what if he is "copying you" as you say. Get over it, the bus tour idea was not your invention.

a sure sign of a loser. he sounds like an 8 year tatteling on his sister to his mommy or something.

I agree, Thompson. You invented the bus tour! It was never done by any other candidate until you came along. Spare me your tripe, and spare yourself the flattery.

Yes, Thompson is such an original, I'll bet Romney is vying to copy him. Except that Romney had his schedule posted on his website and general strategy for a long time now....