Thompson drops out

Just a quick blog tonight on the news that former senator Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race to become the Republican nominee for President. While it reduces the Republican field to 6, its still a wide open race. Three of the candidates (Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and John McCain) have won the first six contests, while Rudy Giuliani has held back funds for the Florida contest next week.

*Since I wrote this, I've discovered that Duncan Hunter has dropped out of the race too, leaving the Republicans - like the Democrats - with 5 candidates remaining.*

Meanwhile, there is news that Mike Huckabee is struggling to continue to fund his campaign and may pull out of Florida prior to the contest. It may be that, barring a miracle comeback in that contest - where he trails by a large margin in polls to Romney & Giuliani - we may see Huckabee pull out of the race after the Florida contest.

He would look like a strong candidate for a Vice Presidential slot on the Republican ballot, appealing to the conservative and religious elements of Republican support in the south, and may want to pull out now to avoid damaging his chances with the other future Presidential candidates.

You heard it here first!