An endorsement by Iowa Republican congressman Steve King is nice, and Fred Thompson’s campaign might use this to argue that reports of their death in the Hawkeye state are greatly exaggerated.

Not getting an endorsement that you expected, and were people thought you were going to get – as allegedly Team Romney was – is not nice. Was there a head-fake involved here?

UPDATE: Team Romney says,”Staffers from our campaign attended the event, but certainly did not claim Rep. King’s endorsement.” Nonetheless, I’m told that by Saturday, some folks on Fred Thompson’s campaign were lamenting to others that Romney had won the endorsement.

ANOTHER UPDATE: This account, if accurate, is striking:

After the event, I asked King if he had made up his mind on the spot as he was speaking this morning.
“You have great intuition,” King replied.

King made his decision mid-speech?!?

Thompson endorsement statement below the fold:

#more#

Fred Thompson released the following statement after being endorsed today by Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King:

“Congressman King’s leadership in support of the sanctity of life and his efforts in the fight against illegal immigration have made him one of Iowa’s great Republican leaders. He’s a tireless fighter for the 5th district of Iowa and I’m honored by his support. I look forward to working with Congressman King over the next three weeks and into 2008 in support of the traditional conservative values he and I share.”