While almost everyone is focused on Michigan, a Southern charmer just keeps rolling around South Carolina, picking up votes.

Actually, he’s picking up more than votes. Fred Thompson is picking up endorsements also. Human Events gave him the nod on the 11^th, writing:

We begin by recalling the profound words of Ronald Reagan at the Conservative Political Action Conference Feb. 15, 1975: “A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.”

We believed that then, and we believe it now. The issue for us — and for the conservative community — boils down to which of the candidates is most representative of the fundamental conservative principles we believe in. The answer is Fred Thompson.

Another important endorsement came from evangelical author David Jeffers. Not only did Jeffers endorse Thompson, he gave reasons evangelicals should drop Huckabee and turn to Fred:

“Senator Thompson has a 100% pro-life voting record, is a strong defender of 2nd Amendment rights, and is a proven fiscal conservative.” Jeffers states if conservatives and Evangelicals are going to be intellectually honest they should closely examine all Republican candidates under a true conservative microscope. “We cannot allow our fear of Hillary Clinton to sway deeply held convictions and vote for a ‘more electable candidate” said Jeffers.

It’s also important to remember that Fred already had the endorsement of the South Carolina Citizens for Life. And, he’s got the endorsement of a Medal of Honor winner.

On Saturday, the New York Times reported on voters being impressed with Fred following the debate:

The last of the candidates to enter the race, Mr. Thompson, 65, a former Tennessee senator, has so far seemed to distinguish himself mainly by a laconic style that has made him almost invisible beside the others on the stage in past debates, the Berenberks said.

“But then last night — we hadn’t even been thinking about him — all of a sudden it was clear he was the one,” said Mr. Berenberk, a retired teacher. “The bluntness, the forcefulness. He was really impressive.”

The Berenberk’s weren’t the only ones impressed. By Saturday, a mere two days after Fred’s dominating debate performance, $300,000 worth of donations poured into his campaign, 56% of it from new donors. His website was hoping to raise a cool million by midnight on the 14^th. By 10pm, they had it and more.

Crowds are turning out for Fred in South Carolina also. Today, more than 300 people crowded Russ’s BBQ in Aiken to see and hear Fred’s message:

All listened intently to Fred as he gave today’s stump speech (there was a loud speaker system set up outside) and took turns peering through the restaurant windows to see him in action and snap photos. There was much applause during his speech and during the Q&A.

…

Today, with signs in hand and Fred08 stickers on just about every shirt you saw, this was an event worthy of the next president.

Fredmentum is showing all over South Carolina.

Online, Fred is the only candidate who’s website is trending up. And before you ask, yes, it’s true when you include Ron Paul.

As it stands now, the Fred surge has propelled him into a statistical second place tie in South Carolina. Rasmussen said:

“Over the past several days, the only real movement in South Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary has been a four-point gain for Fred Thompson and a five-point decline for Mike Huckabee.

Fred is toughening up his campaign. He is taking his consistent conservative message and contrasting it with the liberal tendencies of the other candidates. It is working. This is what a lot of us FredHeads wanted to see all along. Now we got it.

If the Fredmentum continues, and it will, Fred can win South Carolina. When that happens, expect to see the return of Fred Dalton Thompson’s poll numbers. Conservatives across America know he is the only true conservative in the race.