GOP candidate: Romney is "copying me"
Thompson campaigned in Iowa on Saturday
HUMBOLDT, Iowa (CNN) - At a stop on his bus trip through Iowa Saturday, GOP presidential candidate Tommy Thompson fired away at Republican opponent Mitt Romney, who also recently began his own bus tour of the Hawkeye State, saying that Romney is mimicking his plans.
"I'm the one that started the bus tour, and Romney is copying me," Thompson said forcefully. "And what's the best sense of flattery? It's when they copy you... He's following me around the state because I think he's seeing the polls and seeing we're starting to grow, and that's going to be threatening to him."
Thompson is currently on his tour of the 99 counties of Iowa in an “Iowa-made” Winnebago. His comments came shortly after both GOP candidates were in the rural town of Algona, Iowa.
When asked if he was bothered by the fact that Romney may be pulling potential attendees away from Thompson's events, Thompson said 'absolutely not.'
"We've been on this tour now for two weeks and he is just starting yesterday," said Thompson. "He's going to the same place I am, hopefully to show that he's got support better than mine, but I think overall [my campaign is] doing very, very well."
Romney’s Iowa spokesperson Tim Albrecht declined to comment.
- CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch
Thompson unveils second quarter fundraising efforts
Thompson announced his second quarter fundraising results Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani weren't the only GOP candidates to release their second quarter fundraising totals Tuesday.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson’s campaign announced raising $473,126 in the last three months, an increase over the $315,000 he raised in the first quarter of 2007.
“We are certainly pleased at the strong growth in our fundraising," Thompson said in a statement. "We've kept our overhead low and maintained a disciplined budget. To date, we're able to run a campaign equal to that of the better funded candidates despite the differences in funding."
Thompson did not reveal how much cash he had available as June 30.
All presidential candidates must submit detailed fundraising and spending reports to the Federal Election Commission by July 15.
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
Tommy Thompson to compete in straw poll
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson will participate in the Iowa Straw Poll in August, he told reporters in a conference call Wednesday.
Thompson acknowledged that he knew many reporters dialed into the call to find out if he was dropping out of the presidential race, after his campaign sent out a media advisory earlier in the day saying he would make a "major announcement about the future of [his] presidential campaign."
"I've done this, and not all of you have picked up on it," he said. "But I know most of you have signed in this afternoon to find out whether or not I was dropping out of the race."
Thompson criticized former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain for planning to skip the straw poll, calling it a "tradition" in American politics. He said even though it is "an expensive exercise, even for campaigns with big war chests," it is important for candidates to compete in the event.
"I believe it is a mistake to skip the straw poll, and I would hope that Mayor Giuliani and Sen. McCain would reconsider their positions," Thompson said.
- CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich
Tommy Thompson set for 'major announcement'
Thompson will make a "major announcement" about his presidential campaign Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson is set to make a “major announcement” about the future of his campaign on a conference call Wednesday, according to his presidential campaign.
Rennick Remley, a Thompson spokesman, says presidential candidate and former Bush cabinet member will discuss whether he will participate in the Iowa Straw Poll in August. Thompson has concentrated most of his campaigning in Iowa.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain have already said they will not participate in the straw poll.
- CNN Associate Producer Lauren Kornreich
Spin room gets animated
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) - Tommy Thompson's getting energized.
The former Wisconsin governor and Bush cabinet secretary is talking to about five reporters right now. Thompson's quite animated as he talks about what he calls a drug problem with teens in America. Thompson was also energized as he discussed the immigration reform plan now in Congress.
Duncan Hunter's sounding off right now about the fate of the Republican Party. The longtime congressman from California wants to see the GOP return to its roots. And he's slamming Mitt Romney right now. He just told a scrum of reporters that Romney stood side-by-side with President Clinton when it came to gun control.
A similar attack on a frontrunner from another man back in the pack: Rep. Ron Paul just told journalists that Arizona Sen. John McCain can't be trusted. The congressman and Libertarian from Texas says that McCain is a maverick who bucked the party during the 2000 campaign.
All and all, it's a typical night in the spin room. The front-runners leave the spinning to their surrogates while the rest of the pack try to grab as much media attention as possible.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser
Thompson on Thompson
MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (CNN) - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, already in the race, said he'd welcome former senator and "Law & Order" star Fred Thompson, thinking about entering, into the race.
"It's (Thompson) a great name," Tommy Thompson said. He (Fred) is a great candidate and I think it will help the Republican party to have him in.
Thompson: Washington changed us
WASHINGTON (CNN) - "We didn't come up with new ideas," said former Gov. Tommy Thompson, when he was asked to name President Bush's biggest mistake over the past several years.
Thompson, who served as secretary of Health and Human Services during President Bush's first term, said, "We went to Washington to change Washington. Washington changed us."
He made his comments at CNN's Republican presidential debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday.
The former Wisconsin governor also criticized his party's spending habits saying, "If we're going to spend money foolishly, and as stupidly as the Democrats, the voters are going to vote for the professional spenders, the Democrats. Not the amateur spenders, the Republicans."
- CNN Political Researcher Xuan Thai
Thompson jumps at opportunity to address healthcare
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Health and Human Services Sec. and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson thanked a blogger for his online question on healthcare during the Townhall portion of CNN's Republican Presidential Debate on Tuesday.
"You know, I've been here for two debates," said Thompson, "we never had one question on healthcare. Thank that person for talking about healthcare."
The former HHS secretary and went on to outline a four-point plan for reforming the healthcare system.
- CNN Political Researcher Xuan Thai
Thompson wouldn't send Bush to the U.N.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Gov. Tommy Thompson said jokingly said that if elected president, he would not send predecessor George W. Bush to the United Nations as an ambassador.
He made his comments at Tuesday's GOP presidential debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, co-sponsored by CNN.
Thompson went on to compliment President Bush's honesty and straightforwardness and said he would send Bush on a "lecture series talking to the youth of America about honesty, integrity, perseverance, passion and serving the public."
Thompson served as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during Bush's first administration.
Supporters of President Bill Clinton suggested after he left office in 2001 after two terms that he might want to serve as U.N. Secretary-General. That speculation of course was tempered when President Bush was elected to the White House in 2000 and 2004.
- CNN Political Researcher Xuan Thai
Begala: Giuliani wins
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Analyst and Democratic strategist Paul Begala has planted the victory flag in former New York city Mayor Rudy Giuliani's camp.
While conceding that Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, knew the most about the issues, he also felt former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's performance was the most surprising of the night.
Most disappointing? Begala thought former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's debate performance left something to be desired.
Begala's favorite line? That came from Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colorado, who said, "I'd tell George W. Bush never to darken the door of the White House."
–CNN Contributor Cody Combs
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