Fred Thompson: Iraq Had Nothing to With Loss in Last Election

Say What?! Matt Ortega reminds of the facts about why people voted the way they did last November. And it had lots to do with the war:

In any case, Thompson argues that Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in November not because of the war but because of out-of-control spending and unrestrained partisanship. What's surprising — and encouraging for Republicans — is that Democrats didn't gain more ground, he says.

Poll on top issue in voting in last election:
%
Iraq
31
Economy
21
Health care
12
Terrorism
11
Immigration
9
Ethics in government
6
Something else
7
Unsure
2

He will have to defend his views on Iraq, nonetheless:

On Iraq, Thompson voted to authorize the invasion in October 2002 and now opposes setting a timetable to withdraw U.S. troops. Still, his fortunes aren't as inextricably tied to the war as those of McCain, who has been one of the war's leading defenders.

People are looking for something that doesn't exist among the Republican candidates, announced or unannounced:

Dissatisfaction among one-third of Republicans with the 2008 field has opened the door for the candidate, whose folksy tone, actor's ease before an audience and conservative credentials drew comparisons to Ronald Reagan at the annual Connecticut GOP dinner here. Thompson addressed the dinner last week to a sold-out audience.