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Iowa Straw Poll a ‘Must-Win,’ Says Tommy Thompson

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July 01, 2007 4:19 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: The Iowa Republican Party's Aug. 11 Straw Poll is "a must win" for Tommy Thompson, according to the Republican presidential candidate.

"It’s very much a must-win," Thompson tells C-SPAN’s Steve Scully in an interview set to air Sunday during the networks’ "Road to the White House" coverage at 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm ET.

Despite wide-ranging experience as a former governor of Wisconsin and former secretary of Health and Human Services, Thompson’s presidential bid has gained scant national attention.

"My name is Thompson, Tommy. I’m the candidate, not the actor," said Thompson while introducing himself during a GOP debate in New Hampshire last month.

The actor Thompson was referring to is Fred Thompson -- the former Tennessee senator and Law & Order actor – whose shadow candidacy has gained substantial national attention.

Despite the lack of national attention that he has received, Tommy Thompson has been methodically cultivating support in Iowa. The former Bush Cabinet member tells C-SPAN that he has been to Iowa – the state that leads off the presidential nominating process – "more often than any other candidate on either side of the aisle."

"I have not missed being there since the first week in December," says Thompson. "I’ve been in 52 counties now out of 99 and will be in all 99 before Aug. 11. And I think that’s what you have to do."

At present, Thompson is one of 11 Republican presidential hopefuls whose name is set to appear on the Aug. 11 Straw Poll ballot. The others are: Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., businessman John Cox, former Gov. Jim Gilmore, R-Va., former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., and Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

The Iowa Republican Party has placed the names of Giuliani, McCain, and Gilmore on the ballot even though they publicly announced that they are not investing resources in winning the Straw Poll.

Fred Thompson’s name is not on the ballot at present because he is not yet a full-fledged candidate for president. The Law & Order actor will decide for himself whether he will invest resources in the Straw Poll. But separate from that decision, the Iowa Republican Party is expected to add his name to the ballot (as they have done with Giuliani, McCain, and Gilmore) as long as he becomes a full-fledged candidate before the Straw Poll takes place on Aug. 11.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s name is expected to remain off the Aug. 11 Straw Poll ballot because he has said that he won’t consider taking the first steps towards a formal presidential bid until after he holds a two-day workshop on conservative solutions for America at the end of September. Even though Gingrich’s name will not be on the ballot, he plans to be at the Straw Poll discussing his ideas for transforming American government.

If Tommy Thompson comes up short at the Straw Poll and drops out of the presidential race, it will not be the first time that the Straw Poll has had a winnowing effect on the GOP presidential field.

Disappointing finishes at the 1999 Iowa Straw Poll led former Education Secretary Lamar Alexander and former Vice President Dan Quayle to pull the plug on their White House ambitions before ever reaching the Iowa caucuses in early 2000.

July 1, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (12)

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Members of Globalist Council on Foreign Relations or Bilderbergs; Joseph Biden - CFR; Hillary Clinton - CFR, BB; Chris Dodd - CFR, BB; John Edwards - CFR, BB; Rudy Giuliani - CFR; John McCain - CFR; Barack Obama - CFR; Bill Richardson - CFR, BB; Mitt Romney - CFR; Fred Thompson - CFR; Rear Adm Chester Ward, a former member of the CFR for 16 years, warned the American people of the organization's intentions; "The most powerful clique in these elitist groups have one objective in common - they want to bring about the surrender of the sovereignty of the national independence of the US. A second clique of international members in the CFR comprises the Wall Street international bankers and their key agents. Primarily, they want the world banking monopoly from whatever power ends up in the control of global government." And Dan Smoot, a former member of the FBI Headquarters staff, summarized the organization's purpose as follows; "The ultimate aim of the CFR is to create a one-world socialist system, and to make the US an official part of it." Isn't there a law somewhere that says if you're a member of a group advocating the destruction of the Constitution, you can't hold Public Office? David Rockefeller basically owns the CFR and he's made himself clear that it's objective is the North American Union, and later, a One World Government where the Constitution and Bill of Rights DO NOT APPLY in either. Vote for Ron Paul!

Posted by: Tom Barrett | Jul 1, 2007 5:43:50 PM

Romney has this one locked up. Giuliani should spend his time focusing on the blue states where he has a braoder fan base. I'm a fan of Rudy's, but he should focus on states with sign gay populations who support his policy.

Posted by: Mike | Jul 1, 2007 8:30:18 PM

Why is this man in the race? I can't believe he actually thought that he had a chance to win. It should be Romney or the hero of 911. Whats his name again?

Posted by: cliff J | Jul 1, 2007 11:33:20 PM

I agree. Iowans are Internet-savvy. They're going to find out about that when Ron Paul puts his hand on the Bible and promises to uphold the Constitution, he will actually MEAN it.

Posted by: Darryl Schmitz | Jul 2, 2007 7:45:26 AM

Sorry, I was not agreeing with cliff, but the gentleman who posted before him.

Posted by: Darryl Schmitz | Jul 2, 2007 7:48:01 AM

Ron Paul has a chance to do well here. Judging from the videos, it looks like there were at least a thousand people at his rally on Saturday. Being the only uninvited candidate to the Iowa forum may be the best thing that happened to him.

Posted by: Gary Johnson | Jul 2, 2007 1:59:37 PM

Haha, Ron Paul campaign doesn't seem to know how to slow down. RON PAUL 2008!!!

Posted by: Dan | Jul 3, 2007 6:56:17 AM

Ron Paul will do well in Iowa.

Posted by: granny miller | Jul 4, 2007 12:05:43 PM

I'm really hoping Ron Paul does succeed in Iowa. He could use some mainstream coverage, and they seem to be in denial (take note ABC) with the clear fact that the only reason their own polls don't show him higher is that they do not give the man the time he deserves! Every website that I go to with any type of political discussion has a very vocal base of Ron Paul supporters.

This is no cell phone user conspiracy, this is what happens when people who have access to information hear what they want to hear! Should Ron Paul get the mainstream attention he deserves then all of America will be glued to the debates as a real Republican (and REAL maverick) stands up for Freedom and Liberty!!

:)

Good luck Ron Paul!

Posted by: Adam | Jul 5, 2007 2:20:36 AM

"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom? Congress shall have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American ... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the People."
— Tench Coxe, 1788.

Posted by: LinuxUser269 | Jul 8, 2007 4:42:37 AM

Ron Paul and Mike Gravel would be the most incredible ticket ever run in this country! Go Ron and Mike!

Posted by: Jerry | Jul 9, 2007 12:27:32 PM

I fail to grasp why you must win in Iowa. Will someone in plain English explain this. If I get 2 million votes in Iowa and 4 million in Texas,why would Iowa be that important?
Jackie

Posted by: jackie rogers | Nov 11, 2007 2:27:51 PM

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