Frontrunner John McCain made a pitch to the military, Mitt Romney bragged about his economic credentials and Rudy Giuliani - his campaign on life support - talked up hurricane insurance Tuesday in the Sunshine State.

Welcome to the circus of the Republican presidential race, entering its final week before Florida’s crucial primary.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney, campaigning in Boca Raton, Coral Springs and Naples, used financial markets’ turmoil to make his case.

Giuliani, who banked on winning the delegate-rich Sunshine State after basically punting all states up until this point, is struggling to regain the momentum that once had him leading polls in Florida.

Ouch! Rudy Giuliani has fallen to fourth or worse in some polls.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who surged to a brief lead in Florida after his win in Iowa only to fade as his money has dried up, again spent much of Tuesday in Georgia before returning to Gainesville.

But at least he made it. Fred Thompson did not.

The former Tennessee senator needed a strong finish in South Carolina to stay in the race, and didn’t get it. He ended up with 16 percent - behind McCain and Huckabee, a point ahead of Romney - and quit the race.

Continue reading in the Palm Beach Post …

Former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee bowed to the obvious, dropping out of the presidential race with a typically terse statement.

“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States,” Thompson’s statement read. “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.”

Fred Thompson’s campaign never gained much traction, despite him polling extremely well among Republicans before he even started running.

Despite his strong conservative credentials and Law & Order popularity, Thompson often appeared distant and aloof on the campaign trail.

You mean you actually have to work for this?

Here’s an absolute stunner. Those close to Fred Thompson say that his mind has been elsewhere - you’re kidding! - since his disappointing third place finish in South Carolina’s Republican presidential primary.

Those sources suggested that Fred Thompson is not likely to immediately endorse any of the remaining candidates in the field.

Officials for top competitors Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and former governor Mitt Romney (Mass.) insist they have had no contact with Thompson.

It had long been assumed that if Thompson dropped out he would almost certainly support McCain, who he backed in 2000 against George W. Bush.

What is not clear is what value that has now.

Continue reading about Thompson’s exit …

Who’s hot? Who’s not? Who’s personal life just keeps getting more interesting, and who can’t buy media coverage to save their life? The 2008 election may be 18 months away, but the race is in on. We’ve assessed the Democratic candidates and now, for the first time, we’re moving on to the even more wide open GOP field…

1. Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor

The negative stories are beginning to flow, ladies and gentlemen, but his numbers stay high. Either the public simply doesn’t care about Rudy’s… shall we say, interesting personal life or they’re not paying attention.

One thing’s for sure: Every week Rudy Giuliani maintains a huge lead on John McCain makes it seem like a victory is a given and makes it tougher for anyone else to raise money against him. When’s he going to Iowa, though? Shouldn’t someone at his campaign HQ get on that?

2. John McCain, Arizona Senator

John McCain has a long way to go (though his NCAA picks weren’t as bad as we predicted). Something about his efforts so far seems forced, uninspiring. Of course, he’s still much more of an establishment candidate than the guy ahead of him, even if the GOP base is bored with him (the 2003 version of McCain would be a lock today). Still, he has a lot of things going for him, and a strong first debate effort against Giuliani could close the current gap considerably.

3. Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts Governor

The Mitt Romney campaign is somewhat of an enigma. Raising tons of money, scoring allies all over the place to back him, yet not gaining much in the way of traction among mainstream GOP voters. It all comes down to whether he can win New Hampshire and make it to February 5.

4. Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin Governor

The man’s strategy is a good one. Focus all efforts on Iowa and try to win that first caucus, becoming the popular, mid-American alternative to the three frontrunners. Hey, it’s good enough for fourth in our rankings - but can he raise enough cash to make it happen? That;s another story.

5. Fred Dalton Thompson, former Tennessee Senator

Not sure what it says about the rest of the folks in this race that Fred Thompson merely mulling a run has him comfortably in contention for the Republican nomination. There’s already a sizable movement to draft him (see below). We still think an all-Law & Order, Sam Waterston-Thompson ticket would be tough to beat.

6. Sam Brownback, Kansas Senator

Any talk about Fred Thompson or Newt Gingrich kills Sam Brownback. Not that we’re complaining. With this twit, less is more. And with another Thompson (Tommy) now going full-bore in Iowa as well, the Brownback campaign could come to a screeching halt really fast.

7. Duncan Hunter, California Congressman

An enormously popular U.S. Representative who has served California’s 52nd district with distinction for 26 years. That will be it, though. He just can’t get traction in this race.

8. Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor

A decent guy having trouble getting noticed in a large field. Guess America isn’t ready for another Arkansas governor (from Hope, believe it or not) in the White House. Either that or America just doesn’t heart Huckabees. Too much? Okay, sorry. Moving on.

9. Jim Gilmore, former Virginia Governor

We’re guessing his days are numbered. A hunch.

10. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Congressman

No matter how much it riles up some Republicans, immigration alone isn’t enough of an issue to get you noticed in a national campaign.

11. Ron Paul, Texas Congressman

Two first names. Always the kiss of death. That and never having renounced one’s membership in the Libertarian Party.

UNRANKED: Newt Gingrich, Chuck Hagel (although a sudden entry into the race from either means a berth in our top five).

Why not Chuck Hagel?

Or for that matter, Fred Thompson?

The Republican field in the 2008 election is shaping up to be nothing short of fascinating. Such things happen when a political party struggles over its entire philosophical direction.

Old school conservatism is in crisis, Bush Republicanism (George W. Bush, not his father) is tainted, and no candidate has emerged as the solution the GOP wants.

That’s why Hagel, the Nebraska senator and Iraq war critic, said Monday he might seek the presidency.

It’s why Thompson, the actor and former senator from Tennessee, said he is “giving some thought” to getting in the race.

Despite a somewhat silly announcement to say he’s not announcing for the race (a maneuver good-heartedly chided by friend and Democratic candidate Chris Dodd), Hagel was onto something when he spoke of the country “experiencing a political reorientation.”

He even hinted that he might seek the White House as an independent, saying “This movement is bigger than both parties.”

These appearances by Hagel and Thompson, along with the lingering presence of Newt Gingrich, may mean bad news for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the front-runner in the polls.

Giuliani’s strength is as a remainder candidate, drawing support from Republicans who can’t bring themselves to back the previous front-runner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has GOP establishment support but hasn’t made the sale because of exorbitant amounts of flip-flopping.

This should be an opening for a conservative dark horse, like former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Arkansas) or Sen. Sam Brownback (Kansas), but they have been unable to fill the void on the right.

Perhaps because even the most traditionalist conservatives reluctantly and quietly sense, as Hagel openly does, that the old formula isn’t working.

Follow the link to continue reading on TruthDig.com …

We’re well aware of how crowded the field of 2008 Democratic candidates is. What’s amazing is that in the coming months, a growing list of Republican hopefuls may put it to shame.

The fact that the 2008 election is shaping up as the most wide-open race in almost a century has everybody crawling out of the woodwork and clamoring for attention.

Among those who may decide on a White House bid is Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, although he said at a news conference today that he is putting off his decision on his political future until later this year so he can focus on the war in Iraq (which he stands opposed to) and other pressing issues before Congress.

Many expected Hagel to announce his bid today. But Hagel said he could still join the field later in the year, stating:

“I admire [each candidate] for their willingness to put themselves on the line and pursue their beliefs and ideals. I believe the political currents in America are more unpredictable today than at any time in modern history.”

Hagel is one of the most aggressive Republican critics of George W. Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq, a quagmire that has meant the downfall of the administration in some respects, and is hampering the candidacy of one-time 2008 front-runner John McCain, a staunch supporter of the invasion.

In addition to Hagel, former Tennessee Senator and current Law & Order star Fred Thompson is considering a presidential run next year.

Thompson (pictured above) told Fox News that he is leaving the door open to joining the Republican presidential field later in the year.

“I’m going to wait and see how it pans out, how they do, how it develops. A lot of people think it is late already. I do not really think it is, although the rules of the game have changed somewhat,” he said.

Continue reading this article …

Fred Dalton Thompson (below) was a two-term U.S. Senator.

Sam Waterston (right) sure as hell looks the part - and has a history of political activism in his own right.

Could a bipartisan Law & Order ticket featuring the two actors - a made-for-TV, 2008 version of the would-have-been John Kerry-John McCain ‘04 juggernaut - captivate the nation with a moderate approach and take the White House?

Wishful thinking. But the interesting thing is that both Law & Order stars are being talked about in political circles of late.

Waterston, a political independent and active humanitarian, is a vocal supporter of Unity08, a political action group intent on backing a bipartisan ticket in the 2008 election.

Thompson, a conservative, served as a prosecutor (appropriate) before winning two terms in the Senate from Tennessee.

But he’s seen as a uniter, and given some of his fellow party members’ concerns about frontrunners Rudy Giuliani, McCain and Mitt Romney, some within the GOP are reportedly urging him to consider running:

Alexander Bolton writes in his blog, The Hill, that “Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (R-Tenn.) is contacting power brokers in the Republican Party to build support for a 2008 presidential campaign by his one-time protégé, former Sen. Fred Thompson.”

Not sure if a Waterston-Thompson ticket would be progressive enough for our taste. Or even possible, given that they’d already be way behind in the race to $100 million. But as fans of both actors, it’s fun to speculate.