THOMPSON DROPS OUT OF REPUBLICAN RACE

Fred Thompson’s candidacy for president ended yesterday on a much quieter note than it began nearly five months ago: with a three sentence statement. The former Tennessee senator and “Law & Order” star was once hailed as the Republican best equipped to unite a disenchanted conservative base, but his candidacy quickly fizzled amid repeated staff shakeups and the persistent rap on Mr. Thompson that he lacked the energy and drive for a winning campaign. After teasing the public for months about a possible run, he announced to much fanfare on “The Tonight Show” in September, while his GOP rivals were debating in New Hampshire. He finished a distant third in the Iowa caucuses and the South Carolina primary, the contests in which he had competed most aggressively. “I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort,” Mr. Thompson said in the statement. “Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.” He did not endorse any other candidate for the nomination.

HUCKABEE SUFFERS CASH WOES AFTER S.C. LOSS

Mr. Thompson’s exit may have been most likely to benefit Michael Huckabee, the socially conservative former Arkansas governor who won in Iowa. But Mr. Huckabee is having troubles of his own. After losing a close race to Senator McCain in South Carolina, Mr. Huckabee has been forced to scrap charter planes for his press corps because of money woes. And CNN reported yesterday that several of his staffers are forgoing paychecks to save cash. Mr. Huckabee has vowed to stay in the race, but it is unclear how vigorously he will contest Florida, where three of his rivals are heavily invested and well organized.

REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN LOUISIANA HEAD TO CAUCUS

Although the state has received very little attention from Republican candidates, voters in Louisiana headed to caucus sites last night to select delegates for the state party convention next month. The state convention will choose the majority of Louisiana’s 47 delegates to the Republican National Convention this summer. The state also has a primary on February 9, and if a candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, he will secure at least 20 delegates at the national convention. But the delegates selected through last night’s caucus are uncommitted, meaning the contest is not technically binding.

STARS COMING OUT FOR CLINTON, AGAIN

Hollywood is making another big fund-raising push for Senator Clinton on the figurative eve of California’s February 5 Democratic primary. Some real Hollywood heavyweights are hosting the January 31 evening reception with and for Mrs. Clinton at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, according to an invitation obtained by The New York Sun. The show business types throwing the bash include Billy Crystal, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson, Sally Field, Diane Keaton, Rob Reiner, and the one and only — Barbra Streisand. Other notables include a former California governor, Gray Davis, a businessman and ex-basketball great, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and prominent music producers, Clarence Avant and Berry Gordon. Tickets start at $500, with a $2,300 primary-season max-out winning entree to a VIP reception. The challenge for the Hollywood titans and other organizers will be finding Hollywood denizens able and willing to give, who haven’t already maxed out. Also on the host list is a former supermarket magnate and billionaire investor, Ron Burkle. His firm’s business dealings with President Clinton and Mr. Clinton’s efforts to liquidate those ties were the subject of a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.