January 6, 2008
Posted: 05:23 PM ET
New mailer from group supporting Thompson’s South Carolina campaign.

New mailer from group supporting Thompson’s South Carolina campaign.

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) — The National Right to Life Committee, which endorsed Fred Thompson in November, is sending out mailers in South Carolina urging "pro-lifers to unite" behind Thompson's candidacy.

The abortion mailer, which focuses on Thompson's Senate record, comes as his campaign is shoring up their South Carolina staff. The former Tennessee senator is hoping to make a comeback in a state where he's now slipped into a three-way tie for third place in most recent polls, behind Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.

"Vote for life in the South Carolina Republican Primary," the mailer says, noting that Thompson "is the only candidate endorsed by the National Right to Life PAC and South Carolina Citizens for Life PAC."

South Carolina Citizens for Life is the NRLC state affiliate that endorsed Thompson in December.

Thompson's campaign now hinges on the first-in-the-South Republican primary. Last week, Thompson was forced to deny reports he was planning to drop out of the race and support John McCain if he fared poorly in the Iowa caucuses voting. He finished third in Iowa and is running last in New Hampshire.

The Thompson campaign has begun to rotate staffers into the must-win state from their national headquarters in Virginia. This week, Thompson will avoid New Hampshire and head straight to the Palmetto State on Monday evening to prepare for a statewide bus tour and media push.

Thompson said on CNN's Late Edition Sunday that "it's all about South Carolina," and predicated his campaign will be resurgent if they win that primary on January 19.

He conceded the plan hinged on a fundraising boost to his cash-poor campaign.

"If we can raise the money sufficient to hold our own on television, we will win South Carolina and we will be in good shape," Thompson told Wolf Blitzer.

–CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under: Fred Thompson • South Carolina


MAS2B8R   January 11th, 2008 1:00 am ET

PaulofTarsus Its my personal freedom and I will abuse it how ever I like. Don't tell me how to abuse my personal freedom.

MAS2B8R   January 11th, 2008 12:43 am ET

Its my personal freedom and I will abuse it how ever I like. Don't tell me how to abuse my personal freedom.

David Allen Linkenheimer, East Brady, Pa.   January 9th, 2008 6:32 pm ET

What kind of help is Fred going to get?

They will probably help him stomp the constitution and Bill of Rights.

Eleanor Roosevelt taught us that sometimes silence is the greatest sin   January 9th, 2008 8:43 am ET

Mrs. Ladybird Johnson Former First Lady, United States Of America. Women can move beyond the struggle for equal status and for material goods to the challenges and opportunities of citizenship. I always hope that the very best of our people will go into politics and some of our best are women. So, I say: "Don't hold back. Don't be shy. Step forward in every way you can to plan boldly, to speak clearly, to offer the leadership which the world needs. to pluck out prejudice from our lives, to remove fear and hate where it exists, and to create a world unafraid to work out its destiny in peace. Eleanor Roosevelt has already made her own splendid and incomparable contribution to that foundation. Let us go and do likewise, within the measure of our faith and the limits of our ability. Let Eleanor Roosevelt teach Us all to turn the arts of compassion into the victories of democracy. Eleanor Roosevelt taught us that sometimes silence is the greatest sin. VOTE CLINTON 2008

MSW   January 9th, 2008 3:13 am ET

Ryam is right, not only did the others agree with Fred Thompson, several of them used his viewpoints.

Nick, St. Louis   January 9th, 2008 12:00 am ET

There is only one candidate on both sides that hasn't had the passion of becoming the leader of the free world since they were born, and person is Fred Dalton Thompson!

I've never believed a candidate that said they were running for office that didn't want something in return until Fred. I've listened to all of the other candidates talk about change and Fred is the only one not to follow the pack. He believes the what matters is doing the right thing, not the popular thing. He believes in being honest with the American people to let them know that something needs to be done about SS, taxes, and the war on terror.

Trust me, he's the real deal! Please don't be condescending, it's sooo boring! Have some originality, not Obama talking points (change); what a joke! Of course there is going to be change. It just depends on the change in the form of retreat in the war against terror or path towards a welfare state. Stop with the stupid elementary word "change". So stupid!!!!!!!!

Fred! Fred! Fred!

He will make this country proud, I promise!

Jennifer   January 8th, 2008 11:26 pm ET

Mike Huckabee is the strongest candidate on social issues. However, if we vote only on social issues, and not on foreign policy, illigal immigration, taxes, and the economy… We will not have a soverign country to raise our children in.

Check out this site http://www.pinnaclecascade.com and compare the candidates records on each issue important to you. Make your own choice!! This website lines them up, and shows each candidates pasts. You don't have to register, and there are no blogs. Check it out and decide.

This is an important primary! Who can beat the dems? Whose record will stand up to scrutiny? Everything shown on http://www.pinnaclecascade.com shows the true records that the democrats will be fighting. WHO CAN MAKE IT IN NOVEMBER? And which candidate is closest to your beliefs? Which candidate has the foreign policy experience to deal with our enemies and change our intelligence community? Please make an informed decision!!

lisa harris   January 8th, 2008 10:42 pm ET

Surely someone out there took the same class I did. How to sell yourself in an interview. That is what most I these candidates are doing. Thompson, Hunter, the Tancredo and as much as I hate to say it Paul did not take the class. They will not be swayed.

lisa harris   January 8th, 2008 10:28 pm ET

America will not be here is 100 years, if so called Americans do not elect someone who is willing to protect and defend us. Get rid of ACLU and liberals.
Abortion issues are not the issue today. Do not make your vote on that issue. It will be a long time before that is overruled. and I am Pro life. As the saying goes pick your fights. Abortion is not the fight this year. . Fred is in it to protect the country, so we do not become a third world country. Wake up, it can happen.
America, as you, are mortal. It can end.

Robert   January 8th, 2008 5:43 pm ET

The National Right to Life endorsement to Thompson is a bad joke. Look at their rating of him on their website. He is lower than many many candidates. He would be behind McCain except that they count the McCain-Feingold campaign reform as aa vote against life. Campaign finance reform is only against special interest groups. So the National Right to Life endorsement is more about how the organization is treated than about life itself. How hypocritical. They are more concerned about their organization than the lives of the unborn. I am extremely pro-life and think this is exactly why we need campaign finance reform. Special interest groups have one special interest…. their survival and salaries. They dupe people into thinking they really care about their cause.

Vote for Freedom   January 8th, 2008 10:29 am ET

Neither the President, nor the Government, can be your moral guide. This is a very personal issue and one that will always be debated. I say, leave it out of government, or let individual states decide. That way, individuals will have a choice, and not be forced to live their lives according to someone else's beliefs. No government body should decide for any American what is right or wrong for them. I thought this was a free country.

BILL QUINION   January 8th, 2008 5:08 am ET

BILL Schenectady,N.Y. Do you have any reporters that aren't hearing impaired? During the debate,Romney,Huckabee,Juliani,and Mc Cain each stated,at least once that they agreed with statements made by Fred Yhompson. In my opinion that shows that Fred Thompson was prepared and they were not;making Fred the winner of the debate.If the voters of New Hampshire are foolish enough to want any of these other candidates for President who do they expect them to call to supply a reasonable response to an emergency situation, FRED THOMPSON ? How long would it take to locate him ? Wouldn't it be better to have him in the oval office to handle the situation IMMEDIATELY ?

Tim, Minnesota   January 7th, 2008 7:41 pm ET

Didn't Fred lobby for these guys?

Ryan   January 7th, 2008 4:59 pm ET

Fred is the ONLY candidate with a solid, unwavering, and conservative stance on ALL of the issues. Is everyone blind? It baffles me to see so-called "conservatives" who are blind to Mitt's flip-flopping and blatant bullying, Huck's unbelievable lack of substance, McCain's way-to-moderate views on everything except national security, and Rudy's liberal background. (Ron Paul isn't worth listing) Don't dismiss Fred without listening to what he's saying! Make up your own mind and quit being sheep. The ONLY true conservative of the bunch and the ONLY one that has is solid enough to beat the Dems is Fred and they know it! By the way, how many lies or half-truths do Mitt and Huckabee have to be caught in before people will realize that they're sleazy and full of it??!!

It's interesting how no one challenges Fred on any issue. The best the MSM and bloggers can come up with is that he "looks tired" or "is lazy". Close your eyes and simply listen, if that's all you can come up with. Seriously! I challenge anyone to point out where Fred is weak on an issue. No candidate will, because they can't! Take note in the next debate.

Tracey   January 7th, 2008 4:03 pm ET

Jen,
Your comment couldn't have said it better. I swear the evangelicals swarm the polls every year because they don't believe in abortion but the politicians who use the issue as a political crutch completely abandon it as an important issue once they are in office! I am a Christian but I'd be a fool to follow candidates blindly based on some faith based fantasy of a "Good Christian America". Please.

Eleanor Bauer   January 7th, 2008 3:53 pm ET

I don't understand "Right to Life" stance on Thompson. He may be good on Right to Life Issues, but equally well is Governor Mike Huckabee, and he is the one who is higher in the polls, and to take votes away from Huckabee to give Thompson a surge that is too late, will be disastrous for the Right to Life cause.

Kent Coleman, Ohio   January 7th, 2008 3:38 pm ET

It appears that most of the posters here are either lefties and very hateful. I thought the dems and lefties were supposed to be the compationate party? Wants to take care of everyone, hold them back? The remaining are the RonPaul wed spammers. Just quick hits on anything not Ron Paul. No substance.
We as a nation are not in real trouble because of the war, misguided and selfish congress and a president that forgot his roots, but because of ignorants and shallow people that pine someone that is not based in principals or reality. Fred Thompson doesn't outright say no abortions. He says it should be left up to the states. Just like, health care, gay marriage, etc. He wants the federal govt to stay out of it. If California wants to support all these,so be it! Those that want it can move to a state that supports it. Just don't force it on other states and use federal dollars to expend on it. Thats called Federalism, less govt. And that is Fred Thompson. Read facts before you vomit your hatred http://www.fred08.com

GRD   January 7th, 2008 3:14 pm ET

I'm as pro-life as they come — have been for twenty years — and Thompson is my candidate. He has a solid pro-life voting record, he hasn't flip-flopped on the issue, and I trust him to stick to his principles.

Cove   January 7th, 2008 2:34 pm ET

Unlike Fred Thompson, Governor Bill Richardson is on the record condemning torture. 60 photos, pictures and images of Richardson (including one with Thompson) at …
http://fatbillandme.blogspot.com/

Anne   January 7th, 2008 12:28 pm ET

I thought you guys were different–reporting the news not creating it to suit your agenda. I was a fox news fan until they decided not to include Ron Paul in the debate. I am looking for a new source of news –one that will report the facts only –sadly I'm not finding it here. See ya!

angela   January 7th, 2008 11:36 am ET

well i thought it was bad for peop;e to tell what they are a rep or dem

localjim, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl   January 7th, 2008 10:57 am ET

Thompson shows little interest in anything going on. It really looks like he doesnt want to be president.

Mcain just wants to kill everyone. not really but he definitely will keep up on the military and take the fight to Iran as soon as possible. And continue to keep us ostracized from the rest of the world with a similar hard-headed will not budge or change his mind attitude that bush has.

Mit sounds like a clinton in republicans clothes. Pandering to the voters.

Huckabee's faith drives him, which isn't a bad thing just not the right thing when representing a country based on freedom of religion.

Rudy would be another bush/clinton in the white house. He has the same concepts as bush does. maintain the fight. Status quo on health care. and do the same thing bush did on tax cuts(unoriginal). And he would be the center of multiple investigations new and old. he would be just as corrupt as bill clinton was. he was mayor of a city. not governor not senator not even on a federal level.

And Ron Paul would be perfect for the country but is hated for what ever reason by media and fellow republicans that he cant get any coverage and will lose out because of it.

Theres nothing to mention about the other republican candidates, Cause nothing is ever mentioned of them. Sort of like the gimp son locked down in the basement.

So what do we have to look forward to from the republicans. the only flip- flopping this presidential election will be how the country flipped from being republican dominated to democratically dominated.

the only fear card that should be used is in the mirror you all look in and see your scary candidates.

republicans have become to arrogant and will let someone like Ron Paul slip through their fingers and hold on to none of the above instead.
good luck

Obama '08

Brent   January 7th, 2008 10:55 am ET

If the press would pay any attention to Fred and not counsciously ignore him, he would be leading the race right now. He stumbled coming out of the blocks but is on his game right now and can win this thing. I am excited about him. Finally a real conservative. Everybody points out weaknesses in all the other candidates but the only thing bad to say about Fred is that he is not obsessed with winning. That is a positive not a negative in my book

CD   January 7th, 2008 10:45 am ET

I have a question for those who are pro-life and pro-choice. If you are pro-choice are you also pro-capital punishment? If you are pro-life are you anti-capital punishment?

It seems odd to me that many who are pro-abortion are against the death penalty and those against abortion are in favor of the death penalty. To me, they seem (in most cases) they should coorelate, but that doesn't seem to be the way it is usually presented. I have a feeling Mr. Thompson would support capital punishment. I have a feeling most of the Democratic candidates would oppose captial punishment.

Eliza   January 7th, 2008 10:39 am ET

As a Christian, I am offended by exclusionary hateful comments being made in the name of Christiandom. My faith tells me to be loving, honest and kind…those attributes do not interfere with my dealings with others but simply define who I am. To those who make hateful comments as "Christians", I am offended as a human being and as a person of faith.
Regarding the election, I think it oversimplifies things to assume that Christians will automatically vote for Huckabee…just as it does to assume that all African Americans will automatically vote for Obama or that all women will vote for Hillary (already been disproven). We are each (I hope) thinking, caring Americans and will vote for the candidate who we feel will be the best leader of our country.
And someone who starts a post with "all you non-Christians need to realize that we are in charge now" is the same as any other religious (read Islamic) terrorist.

ashley   January 7th, 2008 10:35 am ET

why is he playing basketballl?

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ   January 7th, 2008 10:13 am ET

Paul of Tarsus — that is what most of America worries about; the crazy religious extremists taking over. It didn't work. Look at prohibition and all of the speak-easy locations that started up after that. If you truly believe that personal freedoms have been abused (can't imagine what you rational is), then protest and send legisilation to the Congress.

For the issue of abortion, I can't believe and understand why this is such a hot topic that keeps people from voting for a candidate or the sole reason for voting for another. If you believe that life begins at conception, then prove that there is some way that you can tell a group of cells are a human embryo from another primate embryo. Show me the difference at that point. After the fetus/child becomes viable, then there become other issues.

therealist   January 7th, 2008 9:34 am ET

Modern sonic technology has shown that infants laugh, cry and even feel pain at less than 20 weeks old. How can anyone support letting 13 yr old girls make choices like that??

Donna   January 7th, 2008 9:24 am ET

No real primaries in Missouri till Feb., but has support here.
Go Fred.
Christians in the area support you.

PaulofTarsus   January 7th, 2008 9:12 am ET

All you non Christians need to realize that we are in charge now. The Bible shall become the law of the land. You will no longer have the personal freedom you have abused for so long! We can not be stopped!

Alice Newman Center Harbor NH   January 7th, 2008 5:21 am ET

…. Don't people understand how many more important issues there are nationally and internationally? This is not the time to be "a one note Nelly" when choosing a president! If you don't want an abortion, don't have one. The same with a gay marriage.

The so-called value voters still only care about children from conception to birth – will deny the uninsured kids health coverage and think ketchup is a vegetable for school lunches … its cheap! Children in the abstract are much easier to deal with than the needs of real kids who are already here and need a helping hand.

Three gold stars to Jen for pointing out what has become the central truth for these people. Without fussing about choice and gays, they would have to find something really useful to do…

The Ghost of GOP past   January 7th, 2008 5:09 am ET

Ron Paul is an actual Medical Doctor! He has delivered over 4,000 BABIES! And people support Thompson? America will not exist 100 years from now if people keep making these stupid choices.

Anonymous   January 7th, 2008 2:01 am ET

He is like a parrot repeating the same sad stories. His Southern draw is annoying, and he swinks too much. He seems totally dishonest.

Lame McCain   January 7th, 2008 2:00 am ET

McCain is Lame thats his name he has no brain.

McCain: I support the surge I supported the surge I supported the surge.

Was he planning on having his 92 year mommy call Obama discrimminitory names and say oh that her own veiw and I do not neccessarily support them,

McCain is a lame brain. HIS COMMENTS ARE LAME

Glen, Boston, MA   January 7th, 2008 1:55 am ET

I heard an evangelical preacher interviewed not too long ago and he flat out admitted that the only reason they make such a big deal about abortion and homosexuality is because the issues guarantee they can get people in the pews and therefore money in their coffers.

Join the evil liberals (who, on the balance, fight far harder to protect life) and build a truly pro-life society: anti-abortion, pro-environment, pro-organic, anti-war, pro-living wage, pro-civil rights, and anti-death penalty.

Until then, you will always be hypocrits.

Don't vote for hate   January 7th, 2008 1:45 am ET

Endorsements can hurt you as much as help you. When you are endorsed by the disreputable and you accept it, people must assume you believe in the same disreputable things/actions.

Lynn, FL   January 7th, 2008 1:09 am ET

Oh, Ed of Ellenville,
I'm surprised to see you couldn't come up with something more intelligent to post here, besides meaningless name calling. You are better than that!

By the way, I would still like to know the page number of the book, or the title and date of the radio broadcast where you read or heard that Dobson advocates "beating" children. Unless you can back up a statement like that, you really shouldn't make it. Again, you are better than that.

Janice Cat lover   January 6th, 2008 11:48 pm ET

Its a good thing to promote.

I still love Hillary like a mother loves a retarded child.

Lets watch and see if McCain is still a smart ass after NH.

Fred   January 6th, 2008 11:40 pm ET

Interesting post, Jen. Not a new thought to me, but I'm definitely not used to seeing it on the boards. Anyway, I think you'll find Ron Paul has would in fact take steps to affect change (in fact, he's actually introduced and co-sponsored legislation that would do that). Perhaps that's why the establishment-media, particularly the GOP establishment media (translated: Fox), is blacklisting the man. That and, of course, the fact that he wants to totally dismantle the smoke-and-mirrors system that props them up.

Jim in Denver   January 6th, 2008 10:53 pm ET

Where to begin. Pat Robertson endorses Rudy the philanderer. Mitt's religion is cult worship according to the Evangelical do gooders. Huckleberry is another itinerant governor from Hope. McCain the anointed one wants to bomb, bomb, bomb and Fredo is the true pro- life nut. The "Republic" party is about to take a fall. "Bring it on"!!!!!!!!

Terry, El Paso, TX   January 6th, 2008 10:24 pm ET

On Abortion:

Assume that a healthy woman could conceive and bear fifteen children, but she only wants to have two or three. If she elects – for her own reasons – to abort the first of her fifteen possible pregnancies, bear to term numbers 2, 3, and 4, and then have her tubes tied to prevent pregnancies 5 through 15, I do not see a need for the state to become involved. We are all worried abortion having a possible negative psychological impact on a woman. The world would be a better place if there were no unexpected pregnancies, so sex education and access to reliable birth control methods should be something we can all support.

Those who wish to restrict or prevent abortions are people who have a theological belief that the soul/spirit/ghost (take your pick) enters the baby/zygote/fetus/embryo (take your pick) at conception and that interference with the pregnancy is a deliberate undoing of God’s work. These people feel compelled to enforce their particular interpretation of Divine Law on others, though they are rather unreceptive when others seek to do the same thing to them. Their opinion of their own infallibility – and the fallibility of those who disagree with them – has no basis in observable fact. We cannot see that evangelical Conservatives are better people on the average than airline pilots, agnostics, Rotarians, or supermarket clerks.

Many in the religious community feel very uncomfortable about sex and sexual issues. They are drawn to the belief that fornicators should be punished, and that an illegitimate pregnancy is God’s rightful punishment for fornication. They may also believe that fear of pregnancy is a good deterrent to the enjoyment of sex as pure adult play, which they find abhorrent. Christianity has a long tradition of preferring chastity to sexuality, even in marriage. Evangelicals do not articulate these, their true beliefs, but they manufacture substitute arguments which they believe will be more persuasive.

Thompson wants to become the white knight of the pro-life movement, leading the faithful in a rousing chorus of "Onward Christian Soldiers" but the issue is bogus.

Jen   January 6th, 2008 9:36 pm ET

I love how conservatives work so hard to keep abortion at the forefront of American politics but do very little to affect change. Conservatives don't actually want Roe overturned because if it were, they would not have an issue to sell to their base that actually gets people to the polls.

Ed,Ellenville,New York   January 6th, 2008 8:48 pm ET

You'd have to have the intellect of an infant to support a mentally retarded candidate like Thompson.

michael, Gladstone, MO   January 6th, 2008 8:34 pm ET

How does a group like this support a candidate as their darling simply on his record when, taking his career in totality, he doesn't seem to be so solid on this as a "value?" Much like the Watergate investigation (which Thompson held a less than stellar role in), when one follows the money, one can see how he took money from an abortion rights group to lobby for them.

Oh, wait, here it is… "Our endorsement is a testament to Sen. Thompson's long-standing pro-life record, his commitment to unborn children, and our belief in his ability to win," said Wanda Franz, the NRLC president. They got stuck with him when he was the second coming of Ronald Reagan and now they want to push this horse to the finish line rather than admit that Huckabee has a better lock on the pro-life platform than Thompson.

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