Thompson denies rumors of dropping out

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson spent Thursday denying rumors he would drop out of the race if he finished lower than third in Iowa caucuses.

The former Tennessee senator had said he wanted to finish at least third in Iowa, saying a strong showing in the Hawkeye state would spark strong support for him in in Southern states that vote later in the primary process, CNN reported..

"It's obvious that someone in the campaign thought it was to their advantage to put that out," Thompson told CNN of the rumor. "I have never said that. I have never implied that in public or in private. You should take that for what it's worth."

Among GOP caucus-goers, the former actor was tied for third with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at 13 percent in the latest CNN poll released earlier this week.