Fred Thompson makes cameo at local McCain office

By Amanda Finnegan

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 6:51 p.m.

Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson stopped by the McCain-Palin Henderson headquarters to show thanks and give a pep talk to volunteers and supporters this afternoon.

The former Republican presidential candidate and part-time TV and movie actor was quick to give praise to his former rival, GOP presidential candidate John McCain.

“Has there ever been a choice more stark than the one we have this coming election?” Thompson said. “Here you’ve got the most liberal and inexperienced candidate the party has ever put up for president versus a fellow who has been involved in every major matter, foreign and domestic over the last 30 years.”

At the Henderson headquarters, volunteers make phone calls, hand out signs and help with fundraising. McCain campaign regional communication director Rick Gorka would not comment of the number of volunteers the headquarters currently has.

“That’s for us to know and the Obama campaign to worry about,” Gorka said.

Thompson’s visit to the headquarters came just hours after Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin delivered a speech in Henderson.

"Do you hear all the squeaking and hollering they’re doing? She must be doing something right,” Thompson said of Palin.

Though Democratic vice presidential Barack Obama is leading in several national polls, Thompson said McCain will pull ahead during the final two weeks.

“I think he needs to keep doing what he’s doing. I noticed today Rasmussen has McCain leading in Florida and Ohio,” Thompson said. "These national polls are interesting. These are state to state races and he’s closing the gap.”

The Rasmussen Reports daily presidential tracking poll has McCain leading in Ohio by 2 percent and 1 percent in Florida as of Monday. Nationwide, Rasmussen reports Obama ahead of McCain 50 percent to 46 percent.