FAIRFAX, VA — During his introductory remarks at the McCain-Palin rally in northern Virginia Wednesday, Fred Thompson offered a vociferous defense of Sarah Palin and laid into the media and Democrats.

“East Coast media says, ‘but we don’t know her.’ She hasn’t been on the talk shows on Sunday. She hasn’t been on the cover of time magazine. And I say to them, ‘you may not know her but whose fault is that?’ She hadn’t been hiding anywhere.”
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“Now after the initial line of attack they have regrouped. They are now parachuting in dozens of lawyers and investigators and scandal mongerers and representatives of cable networks all into Alaska to turn over every rock they can find in Alaska. I hope they brought their own brie and chablis with them. But after all that is done and said, maybe they will take a plane-load or maybe a half a plane-load to Chicago for a few days. They have had 2 years. This woman is undergoing the most vicious assault that anybody has ever seen in public life. They’re absolutely in a state of panic. They are pulling out all the stops. They are saying things about people that I never thought I would hear in a presidential race all because she is a threat to the power that they expected to inherit, they think that they’re entitled to. They got another thing coming.”

He also called her “the most remarkable success story in the history of Americna politics and people are learning about that now.”

FT MYERS, Fla — Joe Biden ribbed RNC speakers Fred Thompson and Joe Lieberman at what was billed as an economic roundtable, and pushed the Obama campaign’s new line of attack against McCain campaign manager Rick Davis — who said yesterday that the election is “not about issues,” but rather “composite view of what people take away from these candidates.”

“Not about issues?” Biden exclaimed, incredulous. “These are middle class people, busting their neck, and they don’t have enough money to top off the tank, when they pull in. That to me is an issue. It’s an issue to me and to Barack Obama.”

“You have the best personality in the world, it ain’t going to help you pick up your health care costs,” he said. “You can have the greatest character in the world, if you’re not going to give me a fighting chance to keep my job, I love you but I don’t want you as my president.”

Biden, who often prefaces attacks on Republicans by calling them his good friends, hammed it up while ripping last night’s GOP convention speeches by his buddies Fred Thompson, and Joe Lieberman, and a man he’s yet to call his pal, George Bush.

“Last night, at the Republican convention in Minnesota George Bush said, and I quote, ‘the man we need is John McCain,’” he said. “John’s earned his endorsement, he’s voted with him 90% of the time. So, it look like we have another Minnesota Twins team up there.”

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CHICAGO–

John McCain held a fundraiser at the posh Drake hotel this evening. The guests sipped beer, wine, and soda, but there were no hors d’oeuvres or snacks. He spoke for a brief thirteen minutes, but that included a jab at Barack Obama that was in his earlier prepared remarks e-mailed to the press, but that he omitted when delivering his energy speech this afternoon, “We have to go to wind and solar and tide and. . .we have to go to nuclear power. My opponent–Senator Obama said I am not a proponent of nuclear power well I don’t know exactly what that means but I am a proponent of nuclear power, my friends. “

He accused his Democratic rival of wanting to raise taxes, “Senator Obama wants to raise your taxes. I want to lower them. I want to keep them low. I do not believe you can raise taxes in economic hard times or any other time for that matter and not expect to pay a price. “ He also went after Obama for not supporting the troop surge in Iraq and not meeting with General Petraeus. The crowd of donors clapped at each jab to the presumptive Democratic nominee.

According to the McCain campaign website, donors who contributed $100, 000 were invited to a “Leadership Reception, along with the main reception,” while those who contributed $25,000 were invited to a “Finance Committee Reception, along with the main reception.” For $10,000 donors got a “photo opportunity” with the presumptive Republican nominee while tickets to the regular reception were $2,300 per person.

The fundraiser’s host, Bill Strong introduced McCain and joked about Chicago, “I think it is the hometown of your direct competitor.” Strong is the Vice-President of Morgan Stanley in Chicago and isn’t new to donating to political campaigns–oddly enough, according to FEC reports, he has previously donated both to Hillary Clinton and Fred Thompson’s campaigns.

The campaign did not immediately know how much money was raised this evening.

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Winston-Salem, NC — Sen. John McCain slammed his Democratic rivals’ judicial philosophy and railed against “activist judges” who show “little regard” for the Constitution and even “less interest” for the interests of the American people, during a speech today at Wake Forest University.

“Some federal judges operate by fiat, shrugging off generations of legal wisdom and precedent while expecting their own opinions to go unquestioned. Only their favorite precedents are to be considered “settled law,” and everything else is fair game,” McCain said, addressing more than 2,000 University students, staff and faculty at the college’s Wait Chapel, before turning his attention to the Democrats. “”Senators Obama and Clinton have very different ideas from my own. They are both lawyers themselves, and don’t seem to mind at all when fundamental questions of social policy are preemptively decided by judges instead of by the people and their elected representatives. Nor have they raised objections to the unfair treatment of judicial nominees.”

McCain focused much of his fire at the Democratic frontrunner and continued to paint Sen. Barack Obama as elitist and out of touch–rebuking the Illinois Senator for using “vague words” to justify judicial activism and maintaining standards that “proved too lofty” to vote to confirm the “brilliant, fair-minded” Chief Justice John Roberts. (VIDEO ABOVE)

“He went right along with the partisan crowd, and was among the 22 senators to vote against this highly qualified nominee,” McCain said, as he completed a two-day swing through the Tar Heel state partially meant to steal some attention from the Democrats competing in today’s primary. “Somehow, by Senator Obama’s standard, even Judge Roberts didn’t measure up. And neither did Justice Samuel Alito. Apparently, nobody quite fits the bill except for an elite group of activist judges, lawyers, and law professors who think they know wisdom when they see it — and they see it only in each other.”

Flanked by former presidential rival Fred Thompson and former Solicitor General Ted Olsen–both held in very high-esteem by conservatives–McCain outlined his judicial philosophy in a speech that sought to bolster his support on the right.

“I will look for accomplished men and women with a proven record of excellence in the law, and a proven commitment to judicial restraint…my nominees will understand that there are clear limits to the scope of judicial power, and clear limits to the scope of federal power,” McCain said.

Though McCain fed some red meat to his skeptics on the conservative right who are critical of his participation in the bipartisan Gang of 14–a group of senators who created a temporary truce to vote through some but not all Bush federal court appointments–he avoided discussion of some of the hot-button social issues like Roe v. Wade and gun rights.

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Former GOP presidential candidate and close McCain friend, Fred Thompson, is set to join the presumptive GOP nominee during his visit to North Carolina next week. Since losing the South Carolina primary on Jan. 18, Thompson has been absent from the limelight-even choosing to drop out of the race via written statement.

McCain is set to make a timely visit to the Tar Heel State, where primary voters go to the polls on Tuesday, and hopes to scoop up some media coverage. He is set to hit Charlotte on Monday and deliver a speech at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem the next day.

In recent weeks, McCain has campaigned with both Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. While there was a lot of VP buzz when the AZ Senator was joined by Romney and Huckabee, expect a lot less around Fred—the former TN Senator even told Fox News last week that a number 2 slot is “not in the cards.”

McCain is also set to attend a big $$ NYC fundraiser in New York City next Wednesday where yet another former rival–Rudy Giuliani–will be in attendance.

During an interview on Hannity and Colmes Thursday, former candidate Fred Thompson was dismissive of a potential VP offer from Sen. McCain and said he would decline the number two spot even if the presumptive GOP nominee offered it up.

THOMPSON: No. That’s not in the cards, Sean. That’s not what I want.

HANNITY: Why?

THOMPSON: Well, it’s not — it’s not — mainly, it’s not what I want. And I don’t think that call would ever happen. I think John needs somebody else. I would advise him, if he asked me, that he needs somebody else and of a different profile.

It’s not what I want. The presidency is the only job in town that’s worth going through what you’ve got to go through to get it. And that includes the vice presidency and all of the rest of them, as far as I’m concerned.

And I thought I had an opportunity to do some things a different way. And if I was successful, I could lead in a different way. That didn’t work out. I’m interested in absolutely nothing else other than doing what I can to help those who are trying to help this country, and be a good citizen and do those things that I can do now in the private sector to help these kids and grandchildren.

But that does not involve, you know, going to state funerals in faraway places

Naples, FL—

Carl Cameron was able to get the first live GOP reaction to Fred Thompson’s departure from the race today when Mitt Romney arrived at his afternoon event. Romney had some friendly things to say about his former rival:

“He made a real contribution. He was probably the only other one in the field that focused on pulling together the old Reagan coalition, if you will, the conservative coalition,” Romney continued, “His leaving is sad for those who were big fans of his, but it probably helps my effort in terms of bringing together those Reagan coalition individuals.”

Carl also asked Romney if Thompson would make his Vice-Presidential short list. Romney said that anyone who ran for the highest office in the land is “strong” and “should be considered, “He’s a terrific and highly capable guy and anyone would think that having Fred Thompson as Vice President would be a good thing.”

Hundreds of Romney supporters and curiosity seekers chanting, “Romney, Romney!” who could not get into the Naples Chamber of Commerce waited outside for a glimpse of the candidate. Romney jumped up on a silver Mustang convertible and greeted everyone with help from a megaphone. He got some laughs when he said he was expecting to get a group of 60. One man yelled out and the governor repeated, “Next time in the Naples stadium.”

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Columbia, SC — So is he or isn’t he? Fred Thompson delivered a somber speech tonight thanking his supporters and talking more about the past than the future, leading many observers to believe that his departure from the race is imminent. But he made no firm statement about his political future Saturday night.

“We will always be bound by a close bond because we have traveled a very special road together for a very special purpose. You know it has never been about me. It has never even been about you. It has been about our country,” he told the crowd in Columbia. “We are called upon from time to time to make our own sacrifices. We are called upon from time to time to make our own contribution. My friends that’s what you’ve done. That’s what you’re doing. And I am so proud to stand with you in that regard. And we will always stand strong together in that regard. We will always stand strong.”

After coming in a disappointing third in South Carolina, aides tell Fox that no final decision about the future of the campaign will be made Sunday or as late as Monday. Rich Galen, a senior Thompson adviser, said after the speech that he doesn’t even know what is next for the campaign. “We will know when we know. We don’t have the same deadlines that you guys in the media got,” Galen said.

(Note: Carl says supporters might have reason for hope!)

Thompson flew home Saturday night to his home in McLean, VA tonight and then heads to Tennessee Sunday to visit his elderly mother who is recovering from pneumonia in the hospital.

Aides were hopeful about a potential surprise showing early Saturday morning but by the time the party began just after 7pm, the balloon had burst. When Thompson supporter, Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC), took the stage early to rally the crowd, he received little response leading him to tell attendees, “come on…this is not at a funeral.”

Bluffton, SC –

Governor Romney lessened expectations in the Palmetto State today while campaigning here ahead of this Saturday’s first in the south primary. South Carolina has traditionally been the road to the White House for GOP contenders, but the former Massachusetts governor is only spending  a day and a half here before going to Nevada ahead of their caucuses, which are also on Saturday:

“There are 24 delegates in South Carolina and there are 34 delegates in Nevada, and my guess is that our time will be related to the fact that I’m fighting to get the nomination. I’m not looking for gold stars on my forehead like I was in first grade. I want delegates.”

Romney addressed 500 retirees here focusing on a “broken Washington.” But after the event, while talking to reporters he downplayed expectations saying this is McCain territory:

“I’m going to be campaigning hard here in South Carolina. I think Senator McCain has a very strong lead here. He’s the clear frontrunner. It would be an enormous surprise if we were able to win here,” Romney continued, “this is a state I’d expect Senator McCain has pretty well wrapped up, and so I’m going to spend time here to try and strengthen my position, but I’m also going to be spending time in Nevada and spending time in Florida and then we go on to 22 other states.”

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Romney was buoyant after last night’s victory in his must-win state of Michigan:

“It’s good to have another win under my belt. We’ve won Wyoming, we’ve won Michigan. We’ve got more delegates than anybody else, more votes for president than any of the republicans running for president.”

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Though you wouldn’t know it based on some of the messages you are hearing tonight. McCain and Romney aimed their early economic message with Michigan-specific references–where they are battling for a Jan. 15 victory.

Meanwhile, Giuliani is pushing messages (Israel, Castro) for the Florida crowd—his must-win state.

Thompson and Huckabee are actually more focussed on the Palmetto State—where they are set for a fight next week.

And Ron Paul…well, is being Ron Paul.