A week ago Michelle Malkin wrote about the possibility of John McCain’s former staffers taking jobs with Fred Thompson’s up-and-coming presidential campaign. At the time I didn’t take it very seriously, but since then the McCain exodus has grown. Yesterday he lost his communications staff.

Matt Lewis writes at Townhall that this could be a boon for Thompson:

The real winner here may turn out to be Fred Thompson. Until recently, I was wondering where in the world he would find a staff. After all, many of the top talent had been grabbed up. Well, it turns out McCain’s value may really be as a staffing and training agency for Fred Thompson.

I disagree. Any decision by Thompson to hire McCain’s castoffs would send a horrible message to Thompson’s legions of supporters. I suspect many of grassroots activists who are supporting Thompson’s candidacy flocked to him because McCain was such a turnoff. While the candidate must bear much of the blame, McCain’s staff aren’t absolved from responsibility.

Thompson has already done a good job recruiting a respectable staff. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay far away from McCain’s leftovers.