Fred Thompson campaigns in Mason City, Iowa on Jan. 2, 2008. AP photo by Evan Vucci.
by Jason George
Sen. Fred Thompson took to the Iowa airwaves Wednesday night to clarify a gesture that reporters interpreted as him saying he needed to finish second in tonight's caucuses.
"V for victory," Thompson said on KCCI's 10 p.m. newscast, as he flashed a V sign with his right hand. " V-i-c-t-o-r-y is our cry."
The news anchors asked him to define what victory means, but Thompson didn't take the bait.
"I'm not going to play into any scenario that's not totally optimistic," he said. "We feel like we're in a surge right now."
"We feel good. I think we're going to do very, very well."
Thompson also denied that he or anyone on his staff said he would drop out of the race before New Hampshire if he finished lower than fourth place tonight.
"Absolutely totally made up, out of whole cloth," he said of such reports.
The Des Moines Register Poll from earlier this week placed Thompson in 4th place, tied with Rep. Ron Paul.
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Comments
FRED 08!!! TAKE IT TO THEM FRED! DON'T LET THOSE MEDIA BLOWHARDS TALK NONSENSE. GO FRED GO!
Posted by: Mike | January 3, 2008 7:43 AM
Thompson bears an uncanny resemblance to the Creature From the Black Lagoon (see: http://www.savini.com/cblgn.jpg ).
And the more we hear him speak, the more it becomes apparent it isn't just his looks.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | January 3, 2008 8:59 AM
And we care what someone from Toronto thinks why?
Go watch a hockey game and leave U.S. politics alone, it's too confusing for you.
Posted by: Tom O'Connor | January 3, 2008 10:58 AM
I hadn't noticed that before, but you're right John. Throw in some gills and few scales and he'd be perfect for a remake of that timeless classic film.
Posted by: Tom O | January 3, 2008 2:31 PM
I have read the candidates positions and their reasons. I have listened to them a little. For what it is worth, I'm on the Mississippi coast and I think Thompson is the best choice.
Thank you to Mr. Chuckman for explaining Canada to me.
Posted by: George A. Booth | January 3, 2008 4:14 PM
agree.. I am appalled at the blackout and dirty tricks Fred Thompson is receiving from the media.. Yesterday I was appalled to watch the Fox roundtable completely ignoring Thompson and touting McCain. It was so bad that at one point Fred Barnes says "oh umm.. yes technically Thompson is in third place but McCain blah blah blah.. " that was the only time in the night I heard them even mention his name.. After hearing enough of this BS I became so angry that I went and donated my hard earned cash to Fred’s campaign. People should realize that the candidate the media tries to spoonfeed is the polar opposite of the candidate you should be seriously considering
Posted by: Carlos Lorenzo | January 4, 2008 7:36 PM
I would like to add that I have seen many people calling into radio talk shows (Rush Limbaugh today) and even one lady that called into C-SPAN today on the Washington Journal mention the total blackout being applied to Fred. Rush Limbaugh’s brother David has come out in support for Fred Thompson and although Rush is not coming out in support for any one candidate he mentioned several times recently about there being at least one candidate that is a ‘consistent conservative’ which is the same phrase that Fred Thompson uses to describe himself.
When a lady called into complain to Rush Limbaugh about the blackout of Fred Rush stated something very telling, using his Socratic techniques he asked her: "Well what do you think that is?"… The answer is quite evident..
Posted by: Carlos | January 4, 2008 7:37 PM