Wednesday, September 05, 2007

FRED THOMPSON

The Arlington Group Doesn't Like Fred Anymore?

A reliable source has told me of huge, potentially bad news for the Thompson campaign — there is a very influential group of social and religious conservatives called the Arlington Group. Thompson addressed them earlier this year and, I was told, wowed them. It looked like he was going to collect a slew of impressive endorsements.

I've just been told that that group may be ready to say that they're not impressed with Thompson in recent months. Not sure on the why. Digging now.

Spoke to someone who described themselves "unsurprised" by this group's disenchantment with Thompson, and is with one of the Arlington Group's member groups: "Fred Thompson was not a help to us when he was on the Hill... Huckabee's been working it. I was surprised, watching this seeming coronation by some of these conservative groups, but it's such a revolving door at some of these groups, I guess they don't remember that he wasn't a help to us when he was in the Senate."

UPDATE: I'm being told to emphasize that the Arlington Group is an informal coalition, and as such doesn't issue statements or full-fledged formal endorsements. Still, the folks who are with the Arlington Group, prominent members of social conservative organizations, have had meetings with various candidates to feel them out - and individual members may or may not endorse, praise, or say nice things about a candidate based on what they see in those meetings.

09/05 09:53 AMShare