Fred went to the Golden State and announced
his California leadership team led by State Chair Senator Tom McClintock:
“Like many Americans, it has been a long time since I’ve felt that I could trust a presidential candidate to respect our Constitution, defend our borders, reduce the burdens of government on our families, and restore that uniquely American vision of individual freedom - and who at the same time has the natural ability to reach the millions of voters who feel that neither party stands for these principles any longer,” said Senator McClintock. “For the first time in 20 years, I believe that such a candidate has stepped forward. And I am here today to pledge my whole-hearted support for Fred Thompson’s candidacy for President of the United States.”
“I am so pleased to have Senator Tom McClintock serving as my California State Chair. Tom and I share a mutual belief in the fundamental role of government and the common sense conservative principles of low taxes, border security, and the protection of life,” said Senator Thompson. “I am also proud to have these other Republican leaders serving my campaign and look forward to working with them and Senator McClintock in spreading our message of consistent conservatism across California and throughout the nation.”
Fred’s California State Co-Chairs include:
- Senator Sam Aanestad
- Senator Jim Battin
- Senator George Runner
- Assemblyman John Benoit
- Assemblyman Tom Berryhill
- Assemblyman Chuck Devore
- Assemblyman Bill Emmerson
- Assemblyman Martin Garrick
- Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries
- Assemblyman Rick Keene
- Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi
FlashReport publisher Jon Fleischman called Sen. McClintock’s endorsement the “gold-standard.” He also posted Sen. McClintock’s remarks. Here’s a portion:
Ronald Reagan’s brilliance was a combination of two things: his heartfelt belief in traditional Republican principles and his ability to communicate those beliefs to others. He didn’t change his positions from one election to the next. He steered a steady course and no one had to guess where he would stand tomorrow. And because he was honestly dedicated to that uniquely American view of individual liberty, he could communicate it to voters who never considered themselves Republicans, but who believe as we believe.
After spending months watching the field of presidential candidates develop, I have become convinced that only one combines these two vital qualities. For that reason, I have decided to do everything I can to support Fred Thompson’s campaign for the Presidency.
On the same weblog Barry Nestande sees the endorsement as a good sign:
This is a great boost for Thompson amongst the California Republican base vote and a sign his campaign is on track in the primary.
By Peter Hecht - phecht@sacbee.com
Campaigning in Sacramento, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has frustrated many Republicans with his centrist governance – Thompson picked up the endorsement of the state party's leading conservative, Thousand Oaks Sen. and former gubernatorial candidate Tom McClintock.
McClintock, who has criticized Schwarzenegger as too liberal on health care, state spending and global climate change, Tuesday likened Thompson to former President and California Gov. Ronald Reagan. He declared that Thompson's candidacy presents the promise of "morning again in America."
In his first meeting with California reporters since he announced his candidacy shortly after Labor Day, Thompson cast himself as a conservative stalwart who stood for tax cuts, balanced budgets, welfare reform and "conservative, common-sense judges who would apply the law and the Constitution and not make it up as they went along."
"That's what I was yesterday. That's what I am today. That's what I'll be tomorrow," he declared.
In California, where Schwarzenegger enjoys strong popularity, Thompson's campaign is still lagging. A Field Poll last week of likely Feb. 5 presidential primary voters showed Thompson with 12 percent support to 13 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and 25 percent for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Even as Giuliani's support among California Republicans has eroded by 10 points since August, Thompson's numbers have remained stagnant.
Meeting with reporters at the Sacramento Convention Center, Thompson announced that McClintock would serve as his California campaign chairman and accepted the endorsements of 10 other state GOP lawmakers.
He avoided questions on the rift between Schwarzenegger and more conservative California Republicans, saying: "It's not the right thing for me to come in here and take sides on all the things that come down the road."
Thompson, who is campaigning as an anti-abortion, pro-gun rights and strong national security candidate, emphasized his own prescription for the party's direction: "We in our party need to remember what not only has been good for our country but successful for us as a party.
"We went down the road with sound conservative principles. It served as a magnet for people all across America," he said.
Thompson declined to endorse a Republican-led initiative drive to throw out California's winner-take-all presidential selection system – which could net the party 20 to 22 of California's presidential Electoral College votes even if the GOP fails to carry the blue state. "That's for Californians to decide," he said.
Meanwhile, he stood up for Blackwater guards who were granted limited immunity by the State Department in an investigation into the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians.
"A lot of them (Blackwater employees) have served their country gallantly and they're undoubtedly doing a job for America over there. So I'm not going to rush to judgment against these people," he said.
In an Oct. 23-24 Fox News poll, Thompson trailed Giuliani by 31 percent to 17 percent, with Arizona Sen. John McCain and Romney at 12 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
Thompson is struggling in early-voting states, including Iowa, where he trailed Romney by 29 percent to 18 percent in an Oct. 7 Des Moines Register poll, and in New Hampshire, where he is running in fifth place.
"This isn't a national campaign. This is a state-by-state campaign," said Romney spokeswoman Sarah Pompei. She said the winner of the early-voting states will be the one who unites the GOP's core constituencies - "the fiscal conservatives, the social conservatives and the national defense conservatives."
Even though Giuliani has slipped in California, spokesman Jarrod Agen said the mayor has "maintained a significant lead" since Thompson entered the race.
"We feel confident ... we can build conservative support in California," he said.
The Giuliani campaign put out a memo arguing that Thompson falls short of McClintock's conservative credentials by refusing to sign a no-new-taxes pledge.
Sacramento Republican consultant Kevin Spillane said the endorsement by McClintock – "an acceptable conservative" and strong personality in the state party – could boost Thompson. But he said the low-key, drawling Tennessean faces a challenge inspiring conservatives who may agree with him on most issues.
"His greatest strength is that he is this 6-foot-5, hulking president who is tough and forceful and solidly conservative," Spillane said. "The biggest question is about his fire in the belly, his drive and determination.
"Voters don't like politicians who are overly ambitious. But among insiders it creates doubts over whether he has the hunger to go the distance."
Thompson comes to Schwarzenegger Country to tout his own conservatism
By Peter Hecht - phecht@sacbee.com
Last Updated 12:03 am PDT Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A4
