Friday, October 12, 2007

Tommy Thompson Endorses Rudy Giuliani

Former '08 presidential candidate and 4-term governor of Wisconsin Tommy Thompson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president.

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani will pick up the endorsement Friday of former GOP rival Tommy Thompson, a one-time Midwestern state governor.

“Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader. He can and will win the nomination and the presidency. He is America’s mayor, and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership,” Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor, said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.

The former New York mayor is to accept the endorsement in South Carolina later Friday.

Thompson is the first former 2008 Republican presidential candidate to endorse in the race, and officials familiar with details of the political courting involved said Giuliani’s top rivals also sought his support. But Thompson recently told Giuliani he’d get the nod after several weeks of conversations.

The timing of Thompson's endorsement announcement probably has something to do with Giuliani's upcoming visit to Milwaukee on October 18.

He has a $1000 per person fundraiser scheduled.


Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani plans to visit Milwaukee on October 18th for a $1,000 per person fundraiser.

He is scheduled to speak at a luncheon at the University Club of Milwaukee. Donors are asked to contribute $2,300 each to be a co-host and attend a photo reception.

I consider Thompson's endorsement to be significant.

It may not make much difference among Wisconsin voters. Thompson's support for Giuliani may not convince many Wisconsinites to jump on Giuliani's bandwagon. That's not the point.

I think Thompson's move has more of an impact nationally.

It is of note that former presidential candidate PRO-LIFE Thompson has picked Giuliani.

I think his endorsement shows that pro-lifers are willing to back a not so socially conservative candidate.


4 comments:

Al said...

Considering that he is one of the leading GOP supporters for embryonic stem cell research, maybe it just shows that he wasn't all that sincere of a pro-life person in the first place.

This surprises me though, you'd think he'd go for Romney or Huckabee.

Mary said...

I wouldn't call Thompson a leading GOP supporter for embryonic stem cell research, at least not with qualification.

Read pro-life comments from Thompson, April 2007, here.

WI Catholic said...

Thompson is for Stem Cell Research (adult, cord blood, amniotic fluid), not for embryonic Stem Cell Research.

Mary, you think it a good thing that he endorsed Rudy??

Mary said...

I am really torn about Rudy.

I want an unabashedly pro-life candidate to be the nominee. Rudy doesn't qualify.

But he does say he'd choose judicial nominees like Roberts and Alito. The courts are so important when it comes to the social issues.

Rudy's far from perfect, but I think it would be a disaster for a Democrat to get in the White House.

I'm surprised that Thompson endorsed Rudy, especially at this point in the process.

I thought Thompson was emphasizing his pro-life credentials when he was running.

Maybe Thompson's experience in Washington after 9/11 really had an impact on him. Maybe the War on Terror is THE issue for Thompson and Rudy is the guy on that one.