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Politics

Fred Thompson's style may be hurting him

A poll shows him tied for fourth among GOP hopefuls in Iowa.

By ALEX LEARY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 2, 2008

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson, right, his wife, Jeri, and daughter Hayden, 4, talk Tuesday with a resident at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Thompson spent about 45 minutes visiting veterans.
	[Associated Press]

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- Fred Thompson ambled toward the cafeteria of the Iowa Veterans Home, an admirer at his side.

"You were smart to wait. All those other guys are burning out their names," said Al Marshall, a Republican activist in this small community an hour northeast of Des Moines.

"Bless your heart," Thompson replied. "I've always felt comfortable with it."

Too comfortable, perhaps. Once heralded as the savior of the Republican Party -- the late arrival who would galvanize a restless base -- Thompson has failed to fulfill those expectations here in Iowa and other key states, including Florida.

As the caucuses approach Thursday, the 65-year-old Thompson faces criticism about his work ethic and desire. Earlier this week, he told a crowd in Burlington that he would not be "devastated" if he did not win.

"I'm not particularly interested in running for president," the former Tennessee senator said. Most polls show Thompson lagging behind other Republican candidates.

The 45 minutes he spent with veterans Tuesday, two days before the caucuses, was his only campaign stop of the day. Thompson's spokesman said he has a full schedule today and has made 50 events in 17 days.

"We decided we would give people a break," Thompson said. "It was a close call to go jogging in almost zero degree weather" -- something rival Mike Huckabee did Sunday -- "or stay in and take a nap. And after considerable deliberation, I decided to take a nap. Just kidding. I didn't really take a nap." (He actually watched the Outback Bowl in Tampa on TV in which Tennessee beat Wisconsin.)

Unlike the packed audience that filled the lounge a day earlier to hear Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, the cafeteria Thompson toured Tuesday was sparsely populated, elderly veterans eating dinner alone or in groups of two or three.

"We only found out an hour ago" about Thompson's visit, complained Mike Croskey, 59, who is on the governing council of the veterans home, which houses 720.

Croskey called Thompson a "down-to-earth, honest, no nonsense type of politician," but quickly added, "I just haven't seen that much from him."

Thompson's slow approach certainly has appeal. He comes across as less forced than many of his rivals in either party. He is tall, commanding and experienced, in politics and show business.

"I know you. I don't know your name but you're that Law & Order man," called out James Farrington, a 63-year-old Vietnam veteran.

"I enjoy that but, I decided I would run for president," Thompson said, wishing Farrington a Happy New Year and thanking him for his military service.

Thompson visited a few tables with his wife, Jeri, and their 4-year-old daughter, Hayden. Rather than talking about issues like health care for veterans or national security, he mostly wished everyone a happy 2008.

He bent down for photos next to veterans in wheelchairs but seemed disinterested in other campaign pageantry.

An aide tried to herd him over to the serving line to be photographed near a man and cafeteria worker -- an empathic shot that may have ended up on the front page of this morning's Marshalltown Times-Republican -- but Thompson kept walking.

Finished with the tour, Thompson took questions from a pack of reporters that is miniscule in comparison to those chasing Huckabee and Obama, to name two candidates. He challenged the assertion that his campaign is gasping.

"What's happened in the last two weeks is we've got momentum," Thompson said. "You're making a statement there that is not borne by the facts."

On the same day a Des Moines Register poll, considered reliable, showed Thompson lagging well behind Huckabee and Mitt Romney while John McCain replaced Thompson in third place.

Thompson tied Ron Paul for fourth.

[Last modified January 2, 2008, 00:53:33]