Tommy Thompson out of the race

[Agent Smith]

MILWAUKEE - Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson is dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, a campaign official said Sunday.

His campaign released a statement saying the Republican is leaving the campaign trail several hours after WITI-TV in Milwaukee reported that Thompson told one of its reporters he was withdrawing.

The campaign statement said Thompson intends to take sometime off before returning to the private sector and his nonprofit work.
It said the 65-year-old says he’s comforted by the fact that he thinks he made a difference for people during his campaign.

He finished sixth among eleven candidates in this weekend’s GOP straw poll in Iowa. He had said before the Iowa event that he would drop out of the race unless he finished first or second.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20240192/

[Phoenix]

With all due respect to Tommy Thompson, it's better for all that he's out of the race. The GOP field is a little to "full" for any serious debates on issues to be made. No real debate can occur when everyone is only given 30 ~ 60 second sound bites.