Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson has been a huge disappointment.
Conservative South Carolina Republicans had hoped the former U.S. senator from Tennessee would snatch the nomination away from the more progressive wing of the GOP.
Thompson teased the party faithful all summer long. One day he sounded like a candidate who might run. The next day, his candidacy was a no-go.
Conservatives breathlessly awaited a decision, unhappy with the three Republican frontrunners and eager for an alternative.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was too liberal to suit their tastes. They didn't trust former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and they didn't like U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
By summer's end, it seemed that Thompson's name was on the lips of every conservative. He was the "real conservative" everyone was looking for, the candidate who would fill the political vacuum.
Thompson entered the race to much fanfare. However, after all the hoopla, he disappeared. He went AWOL, some activists said.
Party leaders began asking questions. Has anyone seen Thompson? Where is he?
His campaign hadn't even gotten off the ground before key staffers started bailing. It has not worked well since.
Consequently, Thompson is months behind his GOP rivals and running out of time. He entered the race too late, political observers say.
Thompson, a less-than-energetic campaigner, is lagging in the polls, failing to gain ground in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Meanwhile, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has surged into first place, blindsiding everyone, including the pundits.
Huckabee, an ordained Baptist preacher, is mopping up the evangelical vote that Thompson had hoped to win. That forces Thompson to sit on the sidelines and hope that Huckabee makes a misstep that will cause Christian conservatives to give Thompson another look.
Meanwhile, Thompson's prospects have worsened in several states, including Iowa and Florida. He has dropped to fourth or fifth place in the Sunshine State, where he trails Giuliani.
In New Hampshire, the site of the nation's first primary, Thompson trails U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. It's not even close.
In South Carolina, Thompson is running behind Huckabee and Romney. Still, the state's Republican primary is a month away, plenty of time for Thompson to turn his campaign around.
But in a recent interview with Bob Schieffer on CBS "Face the Nation," Thompson suggested he may not even be in the race by the time it reaches South Carolina.
He needs a strong showing in Iowa to jump start his campaign. He thinks he must place in the top three in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus.
Thompson is at a competitive disadvantage. His rivals have spent more time and money in the Hawkeye State.
Romney has campaigned 47 days in 66 counties. Huckabee has spent 52 days in the state.
Playing catch up, Thompson has embarked on a 15-day bus tour across Iowa for the remainder of the year. He says he is confident, telling reporters, "I've never lost an election yet."
But Thompson is struggling to keep his candidacy alive. His hope is that Iowa will come to his rescue.
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RonaldWilson (anonymous) says…
It's refreshing to see a candidate that's not chomping at the bit to aquire power. Fred Thompson does not want to be president for his own sake. Unlike the Democrat front-runner, he is not obsessed with the office. That quality alone would make him a good president. He's more interested in getting the job done than getting the job.