Posted on 08/21/2007 5:10:38 PM PDT by xcamel
More than a dozen years after it was credited with helping turn around his first bid for public office, Fred Thompson's old pickup truck sits parked behind his mother's house in this Nashville suburb.
The red paint is faded and the tailgate hangs open, but supporters would like nothing more than to see the actor-politician leap back into the bed to make stump speeches in his bid for the White House.
The Republican has not yet announced his candidacy _ that's expected next month _ and there's been no word from Thompson's campaign about whether there will be any role for a red pickup truck. A spokeswoman for Thompson did not respond to messages seeking comment about the truck.
Early in the 1994 race, after struggling to connect with voters, Thompson decided to lease a used truck and drive around the state in what turned out to be a wildly successful effort to recast himself as a folksy man of the people.
His opponent, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, derided the truck as a cynical prop to deflect attention from Thompson's inside-the-Beltway status. But Thompson was able to shake off Cooper's suggestion that he was actually a "Gucci-wearing, Lincoln-driving, Perrier-drinking, Grey Poupon-spreading millionaireWashington special interest lobbyist."
Thompson ended up capturing more than 60 percent of the vote.
Bill Lacy, hired this month to run Thompson's campaign, has a bit of personal history with the truck _ he opposed the proposal to make the pickup a focal point when he was an adviser on the 1994 campaign.
"Fred had the good sense to ignore my advice," Lacy said in an opinion piece in The Knoxville News Sentinel in June.
But Thompson so far has not appeared overly eager to climb back into the cab. At his first public event in Nashville after forming a "testing the waters" committee in June, Thompson shook off an attempt by supporters tohave him address the crowd from the back of a brand new red pickup truck they had brought to the event.
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On the Net:
Fred Thompson: http://www.imwithfred.com
Glad I was wrong about Rooty. Hunter`s a good conservative, but like you said no chance at all. Romney is better than Rooty, but that ain’t saying much.
FWIW, Ronald Reagan announced he was running for Prez on November 13, 1979. You can wait for FredT.
I’d have to look into that contractual thing, but if that isn’t the real issue I stand by what I said about him playing games. As someone else said “a series”, like it’s a frickin’ game.
We see the word folksy again in another article about Fred.
Apparently you don’t follow the Fread Threads. Mark this down, FDT will be talking issues starting next month that will make ALL canidates piss down their legs.
He is going to bring down the house on issues dogging this country.
Fred’s good, but he ain’t Reagan. None of these candidates (or potential candidates) are even close.
nothing about the inbred in that tagline?
Who’s buying this round??
I’m sick of the press who can’t figure out something important to write about so they keep coming around to this.
We have a long way to go until election day, I’m patient and an adult, I am content to wait until the right time. It is a wasted effort to get so upset about something like this. I’m not upset with Fred at all, he’s working hard, getting out and speaking and writing, and he isn’t in hiding.
Come on. Wasn’t comparing FredT or any of the candidates to Reagan, friend.
I was talking about the time factor. Reagan announced in mid-November, 11-13-1979. FredT`s got time. Be patient!
Cool your jets there, pardner. There were entirely valid reasons for not running pell-mell with the rest of the pack, one of which is to put together a well planned staff and campaign.
And that’s just ONE reason.
There is never going to be another Reagan. But Fred doesn’t need Reagan’s coattails, he can run on his own.
I said ‘series’ meaning anyone considering using the red truck. It will not happen.
“October Surprise” Will be here soon!!!!!....Fred will be too early??????......I don’t think so!!!!!....Rove Who???....Hillary likes Rush?????......He likes her; I don’t think so!!!!!.....Fred’s a Sand-Bager and there is more than just sand in his bag??????.................
Then why not just announce officially that he’s running? (Other than the contractual thing, if true)
Sorry. I’m a bit touchy when it comes to Reagan. He’s the only political figure I’ve seen in my lifetime that I could consider a hero.
>>>I expect Fred to do the things people least expect, and run entirely contrary to the empty suits currently flailing about and stepping on their own _____’s <<<
Better constructed platforms?
Sorry, I misunderstood your usage.
Ditto.
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