Some of Doug Hoffman's earliest supporters joined him on stage at a Watertown rally Monday evening.
Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson and his wife Jeri supported him during the darkest days of the campaign when it appeared he didn't have a chance, Hoffman told the crowd at the Watertown fairgrounds.
Also rallying Republican support for Hoffman was country music star John Rich and war hero Scott O'Grady.
Rich, of the music duo Big & Rich, said he was told by the Thompsons about Hoffman's maverick bid for Congress.
"Did you know there's a Republican in the race who's more liberal than the Democrat," Mr. Thompson asked Rich as the Thompsons began to take an interest in the 23rd district race.
That piquing Rich's interest, he asked Hoffman campaign organizers if he could bring his guitar to Watertown for a Hoffman event.
As for the former Senator, he poked fun at Vice President Joe Biden's appearance in Watertown earlier in the day for Democrat Bill Owens.
"He was rallying Doug's opponent, but he was just doing his job. The Vice President's job, as you know, is to attend funerals," Thompson cracked. "Maybe he was a day early."
The actor and former presidential candidate said Hoffman is following the American tradition of non-politicians going to Washington when they see their country in trouble.
"Change happens. Good change, constructive change is a good thing. But not on a dime. Not without bringing the American people along for the ride. Not taking us down the road of a welfare state or European welfare state, not gonna sit back and watch that happen," Thompson said.
Thompson and Hoffman exited the stage to appear on the Fox TV show, the Sean Hannity Show via a satellite truck parked outside.
While they were gone, Rich entertained the crowd with country songs interspersed with political comment.
O'Grady, the former Air Force pilot who achieved fame be evading capture after his plane was shot down by Bosnian Serbs.
He predicted Hoffman will win a seat on the House Armed Services Committee if elected.
"And there are millions of Americans supporting Doug right now because we want responsible and conservative government to return to Washington D.C.," O'Grady said.
