Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee quit the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination Tuesday after a series of disappointing finishes in the early nominating contests. Thompson's withdrawal comes as the remaining Republican contenders focus on Florida while the Democratic presidential hopefuls are preparing for Saturday's primary in South Carolina. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee have different views on what the U.S. Constitution is. Huckabee says it's a "living, breathing document," Thompson says the "Constitution has a fixed meaning that can be applied to cases that come before the courts today."

The man who America is not particularly interested in electing president doesn't really want the job, anyway. And while it's possible he's just playing hard-to-get, statements like this one the other day aren't helping:

Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson on Sunday proposed costly changes to the nation’s tax system that he said would stimulate the economy, including giving Americans the option of paying a flat tax or continuing under the current system that allows various deductions, write McClatchy journalists.

The Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee announced today that U.S. Representative Steve Buyer, Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, has joined the committee's Leadership Team. Rep. Buyer is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina , a decorated veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.