Tommy Thompson Has Mitt Romney Disease

The major symptom: flip-flopping. Also known as running against yourself.

Like Romney, Tommy has supported strong state-mandated health care and President Obama's plan, reports the State Journal.

Thompson initially spoke favorably of the need for health care reform, and worked on an early version of the bill, while also raising concerns about some parts of Obama's proposal, including the mandate forcing people to buy health insurance. As it was working its way through Congress, Thompson called Obama's proposal "another important step" toward achieving health care reform.

Just hours before Thompson's event Thursday, Club for Growth circulated computer screen shots showing Thompson as recently as 2010 was a board member for a coalition called America's Agenda, which included labor unions and others that advocated passage of Obama's health care reform law.

And Tommy was Mr. Amtrak, even getting a train engine named after himself and gushing as only Tommy can at the engine-naming ceremony:

In politics, you get a lot of awards and citations. But to have an engine named for me is something that touches me very deeply. I have a model of the "Governor Tommy Thompson" on my desk at the Department of Health and Human Services, and every time I see it, I'm reminded of why I love Amtrak and trains and why I'm so passionate about America's railways.

My love for railroads is rooted in my Wisconsin heritage.

This, of course, was when he was a big shot insider in Washington DC running the heavily-subsidized Amtrak, and before 2010, when he fell into line that began on the right behind Walker and said the Madison-Milwaukee Amtrak extension could not be afforded and urged the $810 million in federal, rail-only money be used for roads - - which Tommy knew was impossible because the funding was designated only for rail, period.

Running as a right-wing Republican and reviving a political career after 13 years on the ballot can be tough if your past positions were more moderate and your opponents know how to navigate The Google.