WASHINGTON — Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, whose candidacy fizzled after a summer of expectations, pulled out of the Republican presidential race Tuesday after disappointing finishes in all of the primary contests.
In a terse, three-sentence statement, the former star of “Law &Order” and several movies abandoned a candidacy that once seemed like it had everything a Republican could want: solid conservative credentials, Washington experience, Hollywood panache, southern charm and a commanding personality.
“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for president of the United States,” he said. “I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”
The statement was a diminutive end to a campaign that was born of hype. It was the image of Thompson as commander in chief — a part he played in a movie once — that seemed to hold such promise when the real-life former senator contemplated running for the White House last spring and summer.
Instead, the campaign became roiled in staff disputes and was dogged by allegations that Thompson did not have the desire or energy to mount an aggressive presidential campaign.
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