Jed Babbin from Online Human Events agrees with my earlier assessment of the Politico hit piece:

The rumor that Fred Thompson will quit the Republican presidential race if he finishes poorly in Iowa is not only false: it rises to the level of a political dirty trick aimed at reducing Thompson-backers’ turnout in tonight’s Iowa caucuses. . . .

Sources told me that Thompson’s campaign was already moving elements to South Carolina where they expect to do very well.  If Thompson finished at the bottom of the pack in Iowa — which seems very unlikely — he would have to reassess his overall chances.  But that seems unlikely.  And Iowa is not a determinative race for the Republicans. It is very likely to be of lesser importance than a host of others, as John McCain, Rudy Giuliani — and Thompson — are betting.  A candidate could easily go from a defeat there to win the nomination. . . .

In every political season, there are dirty tricks like this. Some originate from opposing camps and some from the media themselves. The Politico story is of the sort that even the television networks have managed to avoid.  Saying that Thompson is going to quit after Iowa on the morning of the caucuses there is like announcing the election night results in New York and the Carolinas before the polls close on the West Coast.  If even CBS News wouldn’t pull a stunt like that, why would The Politico?