According to this article, Fred Thompson will be Chris Wallace’s guest this Sunday. This type of exposure that close to the Iowa Caucuses has to give the Thompson campaign a boost in making its closing push.

One of the things I’ll be watching for is to see what type of rating the show gets. If it gets a high rating, then that’ll be an indicator that people are still open to picking Fred when Iowans caucus next Thursday.

Contrary to what the pundits are saying, I think there’s alot still up in the air. This CBS article indicates something alarming for the so-called consensus front-runners:

At the very least, voters are having commitment issues. A recent CBS News poll says over three-quarters of Republican primary voters haven’t made up their minds yet.

I don’t know how accurate that poll is. Even if half that many people are still open to change, that’s nearly 40 percent of voters that still haven’t made up their minds. That’s an indicator that Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee haven’t closed the sale with Iowa voters.

That’s gotta be especially disturbing for Mitt Romney, considering how much time and money he’s spent in Iowa. This is why I never bought into Hugh Hewitt’s thinking that Mitt had the money. Money doesn’t matter if your credibility is questionable.

The reverse is true of Fred. He’s short on money, though I just noticed that they’d met their fundraising goal to run their ad statewide. He’s short on money but long on credibility and gravitas. This Sunday’s appearance on FNS is a great opportunity for him to appeal to Iowa voters. If Sen. Thompson hits it out of the park like he’s capable, that appearance could make a significant impact on Thursday night’s caucuses.

UPDATE: Fred Thompson picked up another endorsement today. Here’s what their official statement said:

Today Iowa State Representative Gary Worthan announced his support of Fred Thompson for President of the United States. Representative Worthan joins a strong Thompson organization in Iowa already in place and headed by Iowa State Chair Congressman Steve King and Co-Chairs Representative Kraig Paulsen and Representative Sandy Greiner.

“I’ve been impressed with Fred’s ability to boil the issues down to the essential items, without a lot of hyperbole,” stated Representative Worthan. “He just plain tells the truth. We’re in a long hard struggle and there are no easy answers like some of the other candidates are coming with.”

Gary Worthan represents the conservative 52nd District, serving Buena Vista and Sac Counties. He has served in the Iowa House of Representatives since 2007, when he won a special election to replace the deceased Mary Lou Freeman. Worthan currently serves on several committees in the Iowa House, Agriculture, Public Safety, Transportation and Veterans Affairs. He also serves on the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.

Representative Worthan has three sons. His oldest son Ryan is a Major in the Army and earned a Silver Star for serving in Afghanistan and two Bronze Stars for serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Shannon is a Captain in the Army and earned a Bronze Star in Iraq.

“I am pleased to have the support of Representative Gary Worthan,” said Senator Thompson. “I admire his leadership in the Iowa General Assembly and his commitment to conservative principles. Representative Worthan understands the increasing challenges we are facing as a nation both domestically and internationally and the need for strong consistent conservative leadership.”

Fred Thompson’s Iowa Statewide Legislative Leadership team includes:

U.S. Congressman Steve King, State Chair
State Representative Kraig Paulsen, Co-Chair
State Representative Sandy Greiner, Co-Chair
State Representative Clel Baudler
Former State Senator Bob Brunkhorst
State Representative Royd Chambers
State Representative Jeff Kaufmann
State Representative Jamie Van Fossen
State Representative Gary Worthan

I don’t know that much about Mr. Worthan but it sounds like he’s a salt of the earth type of guy whose family is committed to serving their country. I suspect that his endorsement includes the help of his organization, which shouldn’t be underestimated.

UPDATE II: Blogger News Network has some interesting and noteworthy information about State Representative Gary Worthan:

A late movement by Iowa conservatives toward the Fred Thompson campaign was spotlighted by today’s announcement that noted Iowa conservative leader, State Representative Gary Worthan, had endorsed the former Senator from Tennessee.

Many Iowa conservatives have been undecided and Worthan’s endorsement was an important one for the Thompson campaign, which got a late start in the 2008 election process.

“Gary Worthan was one of the key Iowa conservatives that had been undecided.” stated Bob Haus, Iowa Executive Director for the Thompson campaign. “Gary’s endorsement is one we were hoping to pick up in these days leading up to the Iowa Caucuses. We’re humbled to get it.”

Haus stated that the campaign expects to pick up more endorsements from Iowa conservatives. Conservative support has been encouraging and “the movement on the ground here seems to be toward Fred Thompson.”

“Events overseas the last few days have helped highlight Senator Thompson’s foreign policy experience. While some of the other candidates, including the front-runners, seem a little perplexed, Senator Thompson’s steadiness in his statements and steel in his spine has helped swing some key support to our campaign.”

“We’ll have some more announcements a little later on. We expect more undecided Iowa conservatives to gravitate our way over the next week.”

Earlier, I cited a poll that said most Iowa conservatives hadn’t made up their minds. It appears that they’re now making up their minds. Worthan’s endorsement, coupled with Rep. Steve King’s endorsement earlier this week, strengthens Fred’s reputation with conservatives.

Today Iowa State Representative Gary Worthan announced his support of Fred Thompson for President of the United States. Representative Worthan joins a strong Thompson organization in Iowa already in place and headed by Iowa State Chair Congressman Steve King and Co-Chairs Representative Kraig Paulsen and Representative Sandy Greiner.

“I’ve been impressed with Fred’s ability to boil the issues down to the essential items, without a lot of hyperbole,” stated Representative Worthan. “He just plain tells the truth. We’re in a long hard struggle and there are no easy answers like some of the other candidates are coming with.”

And to think that a certain Romneyphile hack hinted that Fredheads would be shifting to Mitt Romney because “Some will go to Romney, but others (plus at least a few of the Fred faithful who see their guy isn’t moving.”)

That Romneyphile needs to polish off his crystal ball if this keeps up. I don’t see Fredheads leaving him. It’s a safer bet that some Romney supporters are leaving him for Fred.

Earlier tonight, Mort Kondracke said during the roundtable that Romney looks desparate because he knows it’s possible for him to lose Iowa to Huckabee and New Hampshire to McCain. Mort then said that Romney’s campaign would be essentially finished if that happened. That’s something I agree with.

Imagine the demoralizing effect that’d have in South Carolina. The buzz would then become how Romney lost both states after seemingly leading them all year long. That buzz would also include something about not winning the first two states after spending millions of dollars in them while practically living in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Technorati: Fred Thompson, Chris Wallace, Fox News Sunday, FNC, Iowa Caucuses, Undecided Voters, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Election 2008

Cross-posted at California Conservative