WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (KUNA) — Former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, a Republican and former “Law and Order” TV actor, dropped out of the U.S. presidential campaign on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by his campaign, Thompson said, “Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri (his wife) and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.” Thompson, who entered the campaign late but failed to ignite the kind of support he had hoped to attract, especially from the Republican Party establishment, came in third place, with 16 percent of the vote, in the Republican primary in South Carolina on Saturday.
Congressman Duncan Hunter, a San Diego Republican, withdrew from the presidential competition a few days ago.
Analysts believe Thompson drew support from conservative evangelicals, and as a fellow Southerner, he may have mostly hurt the efforts of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who placed second in South Carolina — 33 percent to 30 percent — to Arizona Senator John McCain, the winner.
The remaining Republican candidates head into the critical Florida primary next Tuesday with four potential “front runners” — McCain, Huckabee, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. However, Giuliani, who was once viewed as the national front runner among the Republicans, has seen his popularity dwindle in recent weeks. He is counting on a victory in Florida to revive his campaign.