An annual Republican straw poll conducted by Wispolitics.com gives Fred the lead in Wisconsin.

According to a report about the poll, Fred even edges out the state’s former governor and 2008 presidential candidate, Tommy Thompson, a popular state figure who held the governor’s mansion for an unprecedented four terms from 1987-2001.

Fred Thompson received 95 votes, compared to 84 votes for former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson. Mitt Romney was a
distant third with 41 votes. Tommy Thompson and Sam Brownback, who got 14 votes, addressed the convention in separate speeches.

The straw poll was taken this weekend.

Thompson Truckers learned today that Fred is the favorite among GOP faithful in Washington state.

The state Republican party reported in an e-mail that Fred received 50 percent of the vote taken as part of the state party’s 25th Annual Gala Dinner and Auction. The event, held Saturday, May 5, 2007, was attended by more than 570 people according to the state party.

The results of the straw poll:
Fred Thompson 50%
Mitt Romney 16%
Rudy Giuliani 15%
Duncan Hunter 10%
John McCain 5%
Tom Tancredo 1%
Tommy Thompson 1%
Mike Huckabee 1%
Newt Gingrich <1%

More and more people are coming out in support of Fred - including over half of the Republicans in the Texas State House….   

The Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee announced that 54 of 81 Texas State House Republicans and several Republican Texas State senators “have joined the growing effort to encourage former United States Senator Fred Thompson to seek the presidency.”

Texas Land Commissioner and Draft Committee leadership team member Jerry Patterson said he has spoken with each Legislator and “found an increasingly strong desire to see Thompson become a candidate.”

Officials said a new independent poll conducted by Baselice & Associates in Texas shows Thompson tied for second place statewide with 19 percent of the vote. Sen. John McCain also showed 19 percent and New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani led with 24 percent. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney held eight percent.

“These poll numbers reflect the enthusiasm I’m seeing in the Legislature and around the state. In Texas, the momentum in the race for president is clearly with Fred Thompson. If he enters this campaign, we can put him in the lead within 30 days,” said Patterson.

Read the rest of the article here.
 

Here’s more info on those who attended Fred’s meeting on Capitol Hill today:

….The attendees, a Who’s Who of House conservatives, included: Reps. Dan Burton, Steve Buyer, Shelley Moore Capito, Don Manzullo, and Tennessee Rep. Zack Wamp, who organized the event.

Wamp said of Thompson, “he was called presidential” and was told that he was “electable.” Five of the seven elected members of the Republican Leadership in the House attended.

North Carolina Rep Sue Myrick said that “people are hungry for leadership today,” and that Thompson represents the kind of leadership that can “galvanize” the country and “bring people together.”

Indiana congressman Steve Buyer said that the word “presidential” was used frequently in the meeting. Buyer noting that the American people has seen Thompson “act in that role”

The members who attended the meeting said they were excited that Thompson was considering a run and urged him to “step forward.”

Read the full article here.

Here’s a super article by Cal Thomas on Thompson:

I have no idea whether Fred Thompson, former senator from Tennessee, will run for the Republican nomination for president, but he should.

He has Ronald Reagan’s communication skills and speaks plainly in ways most people can understand. Anyone who has listened to him substitute for Paul Harvey on ABC News Radio senses that, in this, he follows in Reagan’s footsteps. Radio is an intimate medium. People who are able to connect with a radio audience often can connect on TV and in person. Thompson, the actor, plays other people. On radio and in news interviews, he “plays” himself.

Thompson conveys Middle American, common sense values. When he is asked a question, he doesn’t sound as if he’s giving a poll-tested pabulum answer. Agree or not, his statements spring from conviction.

You can read the rest of the article here.