As far back as the 2006 mid-term elections, I started studying potential Republican candidates for the 2008 Presidential election. Concerned about party seemingly void of any up and coming conservative talent, I started polling my regular readers in a nationwide search for the next Republican leader.

I asked open ended questions, naming nobody, but instead asking readers to come up with their own names and immediately, from the very first internal poll, my readers came up with Fred Thompson. It wasn’t until months later, and several columns regarding poll results later, that a buzz about a potential Thompson run started.

Just before Thompson announced last September, I asked readers to choose from a field of announced and unannounced candidates and again, the overwhelming support, more than 50% went to Thompson.

Today, after Thompson placed third in Iowa and looks to be finishing last in New Hampshire, I asked readers to choose between a field of the five front-running Republicans, one of which will be the RNC nominee. Although the official race is far from settled, conservatives seem more certain than ever…

Thompson 69.4%

Giuliani 10%

Huckabee 8.3%

Romney 7.2%

McCain 5%

Since my internal poll results do not track at all with any MSM or Party polling results, allow me to explain who my regular readers are.

Lots of folks call themselves "conservatives" today, even though many of them hold quite liberal positions on a laundry list of issues and public policies. We must face the fact that America has been conditioned to vote for (temporarily limited) democratic socialism for the last 60 years, including many Republicans.

These folks are seldom regular readers of mine. I write far too conservative for most "moderate" Republicans and I’m often threatened with a lynching by completely intolerant hardcore liberals.

At the core or my regular reader group you will find both active duty and retired military personnel, from boots on the ground in the Middle East to Generals at the Pentagon. Most JB readers have military experience on their résumé.

JB readers range in age from mid 20’s to late 70’s, although JB readers' average age is in the 50s.

My readers have been accused of being right-wing religious zealots seeking federal legislation of moral issues. If that were true, my readers would have chosen Pastor Huckabee, like the Iowa evangelicals did.

My readers have been accused of being neocons. But if that were true, they would have chosen Rudy, Romney or McCain, all favorites of the Fox Neocon Network.

JB readers are family oriented, self-reliant, morally conscious, constitution loving patriots, all in all, very average traditional conservative Americans who still believe in Old Glory, apple pie and Chevy’s. They want peace, but are willing to whip your tail if need be, to have it.

No conservative was ever going to win Iowa or New Hampshire, although New Hampshire will identify the most conservative Republican in the race. He will place last in New Hampshire.

So the focus for conservatives begins in South Carolina. As the race moves south and the overcrowded field of unlikely contenders thins down to the five who could actually win the nomination, Republicans will get a closer look at their five primary contenders and it is now Thompson’s time to shine.

Only five have a chance of becoming the RNC nominee. Don’t be angry with me, it’s a mathematical reality. The performing seal variety of debates is over and substance will begin to trump style.

Mitt is the richest and prettiest Republican candidate. But he isn’t able to carry the northeast, where he should be strongest. That’s a problem…

Rudy the quickest on the snappy come back. But outside of New York or California, he’s not scoring well, even in the northeast where he too should be strongest. The most liberal Republican in the race won’t do as well in the conservative south or the wild west.

McCain will always be the Vietnam hero, but he is headed for a repeat of 2000 when his success ended in New Hampshire. McCain-Feingold and Immigration Reform will block him everywhere but the north east.

Pastor Mike will always be the affable guitar picking nice guy from Arkansas. But even evangelicals will begin to look past that boyish smile and southern Baptist humor, towards actual qualifications to lead the free world during a time of international turbulence and national threat. Mike’s not ready for the big show.

More than a year ago, JB readers knew something that others are just now coming to learn. As conservative media giants Rush and David Limbaugh recently pointed out, "Fred Thompson is the only true conservative in the race."

As a result, 69.4% of JB regular readers have chosen Fred Thompson as the right Republican to lead the party and the nation into a new era of conservative values and principled policies.

The question is this… Will moderate Republicans follow the lead of the conservative core of the GOP for a change, or continue to insist that core conservatives once again ignore their principles and line up behind another Republican too compassionate towards leftist spending and socialist ideals?

Following the lead of my astute readers, I am throwing my support behind the only true traditional conservative leader in the race, Fred Thompson. The time has come for all those who asked Fred to run, to take a stand beside Fred and make it possible to him to answer that call to lead.

It’s time for all Thompson supporters to dig deep and put their money where their mouth has been for months! Invest in the future of the conservative movement, or forever hold your tongue regarding the outcome of the 2008 election and what follows.

He wanted to place third in Iowa and he did. The most conservative candidate was always going to finish last in New Hampshire. But the most conservative candidate should finish first in South Carolina and Florida. With property funding, I believe he will.

The leftist MSM won’t help and neither will the RINOs atop the RNC power structure. If it is to be, it’s up to you, Fred and me…

You asked him to run - now he’s asking for your help!

www.Fred08.com