presidential campaign presidential campaign began wisconsin governor secretary services announced candidacy republican nomination president united_states april thompson centered campaign iowa focusing primarily issues health care reform war iraq dropped race august following sixth place finish straw poll went endorse president john_mccain following withdrawal elected thompson second roman catholic president wisconsin born president secretary seek presidency background political career began election graduating law school assembly received nickname blocking legislation parliamentary procedure named assistant minority leader body minority leader unsuccessfully ran losing republican primary thompson elected governor wisconsin elected times tenure successfully pushed welfare reform program welfare participation decreased program thompson successfully backed school program near end governorship thompson implemented provided health coverage children ineligible governor thompson vetoed bills frequently exercised line item veto overturned thompson served chairman considered potential running mate republican presidential nominee passed thompson left governor fourth term serve secretary administration secretary thompson introduced measures increase funding reorganized centers position attained unique significance following attacks subsequent attacks responsible national event wished resign position bush asked stay rest bush term thompson announced resignation press conference december surprisingly admitted life understand terrorists attacked food supply officially left position january began work private sector exploration beginning thompson spent weekend iowa build organization potential presidential run opened committee november test waters stating times right ideas hired treasurer committee gained assistance advisers previous campaigns including fundraiser press secretary eventually hired political director poll placed thompson december fell january climbed following month eventual entrance neared thompson spent additional time iowa announced campaign strategy focus state straw poll held august iowa state representative added campaign consultant state planned work presidential campaign senator usage offensive term prevented entering race thompson considered viable candidate felt john_mccain unacceptable republican base believed thompson experience candidate unify party order viable candidate cook political report editor commented thompson raise million june raised quarter campaign trail announcement thompson officially entered race april following announcement seek republican_party nomination president interview week branded reliant conservative campaign looking good base attempting establish iowa state hold nation presidential caucus january entrance race slightly increased voter recognition thompson polls stated increase likely attributed exposure potential candidate remained presidential polls sixth place overall potential candidates ahead declared candidates statewide polls placed thompson home state wisconsin considerably higher marks achieved lower candidates home states entrance candidate set forth position war iraq holding president allow vote united_states military remain nation stated don want april thompson hit trails iowa strategy state spend time candidate emphasizing intend win iowa midwest roots commented fiscal responsibility event suburb stating republicans went washington lost way tried spend money like democrats introduced health care platform emphasized prevention called reforms current system ensure americans covered future financial sphere campaign thompson acknowledged compete funds raised upper candidates stated intend campaign different according thompson centered strong ground organization iowa thompson criticized stated jewish event believed earning money jewish tradition later event stated trying imply jews finances compliment ing jews outstanding business people spokesman later said despite setback campaign given boost later month columnist george wrote editorial thompson republican presidential candidate impressive finished april campaigning iowa continuing strategy planned thompson began republican debate reagan presidential library valley california sponsored debate voiced support iraqi vote included plan second phase chose american forces remain nation stated oil revenues split system established asked abortion thompson stated believed left individual states precedent set wade given opportunity discuss governorship wisconsin highlighting record overall cutting taxes billion subject taxes articulated support option flat tax benefit end debate thompson differentiated president stating president transform health care system settle situation iraq comment debate campaign issue thompson apologized remarks time answer question stated believed decision fire gay worker based morals employer left individual business days following debate candidate rescinded comments blamed hearing aid stating didn hear question thompson said sick debate having hospitalized days earlier flu think getting stage campaign adviser later point episode moment thompson campaign thompson harshly criticized remarks political director asked times going completely offensive majority americans people start going thompson tried public finished second poll state convention members wisconsin members polled trailing received votes stood average statewide polls state stood iowa based campaign thompson participated debate discussed insistence trim bureaucracy federal government support stem cell research achievements alma mater madison field asked event attack hypothetical anti american nation promoting terrorism candidate quoted secretary state reflecting need sure intelligence correct deploy right troops sure exit strategy planned following debate thompson campaigned new_hampshire taking break rest month june day campaigning iowa thompson returned new_hampshire participate june debate discussed issue illegal immigration arguing border secured passing comprehensive immigration reform later commented border secured amnesty illegal immigrants proposed comprehensive immigration reform act amnesty bill opposed asked potential candidate namesake thompson responded saying talking reliable conservative thompson actor questioned biggest mistake presidency member cabinet thompson responded went washington change washington washington changed didn come new ideas got transform health care got wind got wind war iraq got sure conservatives going spend money like democrats voters going vote professional spending democrat amateur republican later joked certainly send united_nations following debate thompson continued criticism bush administration campaigning new_hampshire stated open president bush criticized handling iraq war terrible mistake assessed president inner circle people days later thompson sent mail press conference major announcement campaign speculated thompson drop race instead announced intentions participate reaffirmed strategy relying straw poll propel lower tier despite moves campaigns john_mccain withdraw event political science professor analyzed straw poll strategy commented thompson didn sort substantive showing hard money flow continue late june wisconsin commented thompson campaign representative identified supporter hailed thompson lot country state called thompson long shot stopped short endorsing representative described thompson campaign representative commented think lot hoping best tommy wishing sort watching field republicans wondered thompson running system argued governor profound impact party members wisconsin created familiarity complex caused people come hearing run despite spokesman remarked thompson wants people chance knows lot prove working hours week prove strategic vision poll iowa voters placed thompson fifth place candidates percent support improve standing ahead thompson planned iowa campaign july swing labeled common sense solutions tour communications director remarked despite low amounts capital thompson spend time iowa july compared thompson strategy retail politics strategy led victory iowa close month thompson campaigned iowa brief stop new_hampshire june june won straw poll july july thompson campaigned extensively iowa hoping gain traction poll planned began common sense solutions tour july holiday traveled iowa fueled embarked similar campaign bus tour thompson accused copying idea thompson stop month scheduled evening july unable event plane malfunction instead opened tour july stop leg common sense solutions tour thompson bold promise proclaimed elected president administration eliminate breast cancer accomplished planned attack major cancer thompson explained disease afflicted family millions stated candidate party prepared motivated lead effort compared announcement president kennedy pledge man moon end 1960s plan consisted increases funding cancer research including doubling budget additional incentives private medical professionals find cure furthermore thompson remarked plan travel world promote improving international standing questioned announcement desperate measure desperate candidate thought policy secretary added sure item proof succeed drawing attention thompson race straight days campaigning thompson concluded leg tour july like republican presidential candidates congressman thompson chose skip july presidential debate sponsored july new financial reports released revealed thompson raised second quarter cash hand showed slight increase quarter figures far fellow republican candidates candidates ranked second fundraising ahead dropped race day financial disclosure thompson stated earlier month pleased strong growth fundraising able run campaign equal better funded candidates despite differences funding additionally thompson remained low nationwide polls standing percent july survey actually reflected point increase support june thompson addressed monthly meeting san diego republican party july returning iowa july second leg common sense solutions tour campaigned state days taking days returned iowa final leg tour july remained end month following thompson final leg tour maintained blog described event attended thompson interaction voters wise witnessed thompson fellow presidential candidate thompson criticized negative campaigning discovering sent referred thompson moderate governor supported amnesty illegal immigrants labelled hate piece somebody way trying attack event countered claims entered building leading thompson point proceeded list accomplishments governor remarked amnesty career contrary opponents said time thompson accepted invitation cnn youtube debate despite assurances appear referenced democratic_party youtube debate commented presidency ought held higher level having answer questions response thompson spokesman remarked answer questions american wants ask includes dressed like ready questions spending nearly month campaigning iowa thompson said end july failed win come second state straw poll drop race admitted campaign significantly lacked funding spending large amounts money stay afloat believed strong showing improve ability raise funds planned bus supporters straw poll pay entrance fee interview thompson commented experience candidate race democrat came close believed experience combined efforts iowa lack funds thompson proclaimed shocked win straw poll personal analysis race commented wouldn trouble think going late july coffee shop audience thompson said wouldn didn think win august thompson continued strategy iowa heading august speaking trail remarkably campaign going revealed campaign running budget hired august thompson achieved goal having campaigned iowa counties competed final debate august discourse candidate points previous debates emphasizing health care popular sovereignty iraq described war terrorism holy war united_states losing lack unity end debate thompson plea upcoming straw poll addressing wish republicans democrats unite start building america stronger better tomorrow withdrawal august thompson finished sixth place straw poll votes seven percent total won votes victory overshadowed surprisingly strong showing second place considered straw poll decided participate conversation thompson earlier summer event thompson dropped race campaign spokesman commented worked hard asked day thompson released statement withdrawal felt record governor wisconsin secretary gave experience needed serve president respect decision voters leaving campaign trail today leave challenges improving health care welfare america endorsements list campaign events aftermath months withdrawal thompson endorsed president praised new_york_city mayor win nomination presidency argued period time great stress country showed tremendous leadership america mayor withdrawal thompson backed john_mccain ultimately won republican_party nomination general election thompson told new_york_times satisfied campaign don know lost election democratic senator barack_obama thompson entered race senate seat vacated retiring democratic senator wisconsin thompson won nomination lost representative
Tommy Thompson presidential campaign, 2008