The American Spectator

Phil, I didn't think he was terrible on Meet the Press and I didn't write that he was. I think his speaking style is a mixed bag. He does not answer questions linearly with a direct answer to the question but rather talks about the subject matter. Some find this thoughtful and other think he is vamping and unfocused. He does have the mmmm and ahhh problem. As for the overall performance I do not think it so memorable or so flawed as to change many voters' minds. I do think the abortion remarks were the most noteworthy. Whether CBN Brody's conclusion ("The way things are going all he needs now is to buy the gun that shoots him in the foot. Actually, he's doing a pretty good job of that himself. Thompson is a man of firm principles. There's no doubt about that. Federalism is a top principle. It may cost him with social conservatives who believe protecting life and the institution of marriage trump the federalism argument. Either way, one thing is for sure. The Thompson rollout with social conservatives hasn't gone exactly as planned.") is reprepresentative and whether other candidates pounce will become clear in the next week. One thing I will say for Thompson, his unwillingness to throw his friend Martin under the proverbial bus is refreshing but we'll see if he finds alternative transportation from now on.

UPDATE: One other vote in favor of the "mixed bag" is here. But rather than abortion perhaps Martin is the bigger issue, at least for the MSM, which seems to focus on that.