Bob McCarty Writes

Tommy Thompson has lived up to his “reliable conservative” label yesterday. After a poor showing in Saturday’s Iowa Straw Poll, the former Wisconsin governor and one-time secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush, ended his Republican presidential bid.

Prior to the uniquely-Iowa event, something of a county fair of Republican politics, Thompson had said he would end his presidential bid if he didn’t finish in second place or higher.

“I felt my record as governor of Wisconsin and secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as president, but I respect the decision of the voters,” he said. “I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America.”

Now, only one Thompson — former Law and Order actor and Tennessee senator Fred Thompson — remains in the GOP presidential race, though still undeclared.