Tommy Thompson 2008 presidential campaign finish at Ames. For his campaign, Thompson focused primarily on the issues of health care reform and the War in Iraq. He campaigned almost exclusively in Iowa but did participate in four nationally televised presidential debates. Political gaffes and health issues beset the campaign. After his withdrawal, Thompson endorsed Rudy Giuliani for president and backed John McCain once Giuliani exited the race. Four years later, Thompson unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin as the Republican nominee. Tommy Thompson's political career began in 1966 upon his election to the Wisconsin State Assembly after graduating from law school at University of
Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries Nationwide opinion polling for the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries This is a list of nationwide public opinion polls that were conducted with respect to the Republican primaries for the 2012 United States presidential election. The persons named in the polls were either declared candidates, former candidates or received media speculation about their possible candidacy. Eleven different people were at the top of a poll at one time or the other; these were (in chronological order of earliest poll lead):<br>Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Newt Gingrich, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain and