The Screwups of Campaign '08

Presidential campaigns are so carefully stage-managed that few things are as entertaining as the mistakes politicians make on the trail. Throughout the 2008 race, check out TIME.com's ongoing chronicle of each candidate's gaffes, and then vote on just how big a screwup each one is

Mistakes Were Made

Thompson's Judgment Call

dek — Paul J. Richards / AFP / Getty Images

Fred Thompson
Oct. 2, 2007

"The president called me up and asked me to help shepherd judge John Roberts' nomination through the Senate confirmation process ... Even though the other party controlled the Judiciary committee, we got some votes there."

— Thompson, describing his role in Roberts' nomination process, at which time the Republicans were in the majority.

— M.J. Stephey

Next McCain's Christian Notion