HOWARD'S ENDS

(The Washington Prowler) - Former Sen. Fred Thompson has made it clear that he will not endorse another candidate in the near future, if at all. Last week, staffers for Sen. Tom Coburn were on Capitol Hill encouraging others to sign on with Coburn's candidate, John McCain, saying that Thompson was endorsing the candidate. Coburn, who months ago had made a promise to Thompson to endorse him but never did so, hasn't spoken to Thompson in months.

One source of the Thompson endorsement rumors is believed to be former Tennessee Sen. Howard Baker, who has been fielding phone calls about Thompson from other campaigns and media outlets, and has done nothing to tamp down the rumors. "He's enjoying what he knows will be short-lived relevancy," says a member of Baker's law firm in Tennessee. Baker, who was an honorary national chair of the Thompson campaign, officially endorsed McCain on Saturday.

Thompson is expected to speak publicly about his future plans at a later date, and rumors had him and his wife, Jeri, down in Nashville looking at houses over the weekend.