East TN Conservative

By Adam | January 7, 2008 - 10:14 am - Posted in Primary Season, Republicans Fred Thompson Less than 24 hours before New Hampshire voters weigh in on the presidential nominating process, a massive new statewide mail piece from the South Carolina Citizens for Life — an affiliate of the anti-abortion group National Right to Life Committee — set to hit homes this week signifies Fred Thompson’s strategic decision to look past the Granite State. 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.” [PETER HAMBY - CNN] Thompson, who is unlikely to place better than fourth in New Hampshire, is wise to focus on South Carolina while the rest of the GOP field courts voters up North. A good showing in this state could keep him alive, but a bad showing would likely end his campaign. As a reader at the National Review’s Campaign Spot blog noted, the only reason Thompson was even at the FoxNews New Hampshire debate last night was to reach out to voters here. Remember, NH is not the reason Fred is at the debate tonight. It’s South Carolina. He is trying to lay groundwork for a comeback here. After Tuesday, either McCain will be out of the race or Romney will be seriously weakened. There will be pieces that can be picked up in South Carolina and Fred wants to be the one with the broom. But Thompson won’t be in New Hampshire much longer. He begins a bus tour in South Carolina tomorrow. Will this be enough for Thompson? Well, his supporters on the ground in South Carolina seem to think they’re gaining ground, but we’ll see. Either way, it’s pretty safe to say our state is going to be kind of pivotal.