Thompson met lowered expectations, barely
By Peter S. Canellos, Globe Staff
WASHINGTON -- Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson set low expectations for his first debate as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. And, in the first minutes of today's Michigan debate, he failed to reach them.
Asked why two-thirds of Americans express pessimism about the economy, Thompson said, in his slow folksy drawl, "Well, I think there are pockets in this economy that, certainly, they're having difficulty. I think they're certainly those in Michigan that are having difficulty. I think you always find that in a vibrant, dynamic economy. . ."
Thompson's dismissal of Michigan's pain didn't pass unnoticed. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney quickly jumped in to say, "It's inexcusable that Michigan is undergoing a one-state recession."
Thompson's performance slowly ticked upwards from its low start, but his answers, while often soothing, rarely moved beyond agreeing with other candidates and endorsing broad principles like free trade. He sprinkled in a few specifics about the alternative-minimum tax and the War Powers Resolution, but otherwise concentrated on conveying an impression of grandfatherly ease and geniality.
more...
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/10/thompson_met_lo.html