Alas, poor Frederick, we hardly knew ye:
Fred Thompson dropped his presidential bid Tuesday, after the former Tennessee senator and actor finished third in the South Carolina primary and was unable to score a victory in any of the early primaries or caucuses.
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people,” Thompson said in a statement….
Thompson left Nashville Tuesday afternoon for McLean, Va., where he is expected to make the announcement about his campaign as early as Tuesday night.
Aides said Thompson sent an e-mail Monday saying he was still undecided about whether to stay in the race — but with no plans to campaign in Florida, which holds its primary Jan. 29, or to participate in a Republican debate Thursday, his staffers expected him to withdraw.
Thompson seemed on the verge of bowing out Saturday during his post-election address in Columbia, S.C., after it became evident he would not finish better than third in South Carolina.
Telling his supporters to “stand strong,” he said, “We will always be bound by a close bond, because we have traveled a very special road together for a very special purpose. You know, it’s never been about me. It’s never even been about you. It’s been about our country and the future of our country … And because of your efforts and because of our working together, our party is being required to look itself in the mirror, decide where it’s going, decide who it is.”
I have absolutely no idea how I will vote now. I had planned on registering as a Republican to vote for Fred in the Virginia primary, but now there’s no point. I guess it will come down to who I can stomach best.
Ugh.
UPDATE (Chris): Fred was really the only candidate I trusted on every issue. I can trust McCain on defense, but not free speech and immigration, I can trust Giuliani on defense and fiscally, but not on the 2nd amendment, I can trust Huckabee to scare me, and I can trust Romney… to have great hair. Fred was the only one who I thought would give more than lip service to federalism and stay true to limited govt. Personally I’ll probably light a candle for St. Jude, and move to the next long shot candidate.
Update (Keith): Personally very disappointing. Now I don’t know who I would vote for, not that my primary vote will probably mean anything by the time Indiana gets to vote. He’s the only candidate who inspired the least bit of passion in me this political season. He certainly had a style all his own, and that style was what attracted me most.