Former Tennessee Senator and 2008 Presidential candidate Fred Thompson became the latest endorsement for Newt Gingrich.  Making his announcement one Hannity tonight, Thompson said,

" The way I view the strength of these candidates had to do with the way I view the status and direction of our government.  We’re in deep trouble. I probably think, I think that probably we are in greater trouble than most people do. Even these numbers that are coming out of Washington that look so bleak are understated.  I think we’re at a tipping point in this country,” he said.

“There are going to be more people in the wagons soon than are pulling the wagon,” Thompson said. “I think we’re there. Almost half the people are the recipient of some federal program. Almost half the people pay no federal income tax. I think this president is taking us down the road of a genuine welfare state full-fledged, even when we have the example of Europe to teach us and guide us. And I think the American people see what is going on there, see what’s going on in their own country.”

“Newt Gingrich is the guy who can articulate what America is all about, American exceptionalism, can make the case and not just read the talking points or do it off the teleprompter, can make the case for free markets and our basic case that lower taxes can be good for everybody, and bring about growth, it’s good for everybody,” Thompson said.

“He is not afraid and he is tough...And he is experienced. I don’t think any more it’s an advantage to be able to say ‘I know nothing about the operation of the federal government.’ I know something about it. Newt knows something about it.”

“I came to Washington in 1995 in part because of what was going on in the country that had generated in large part by the leadership of Newt Gingrich,” he said. “He conceived and carried out really a revolution in American politics at that time. And, we were able to balance the budget for about four years in a row, and pass welfare reform and begin to rebuild a depleted military. These things can be done but we can’t be apologetic about it.”