Posted on 08/23/2007 12:56:47 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
In the latest Gallup presidential poll, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson ranks second among Republican voters.
One political strategist said Thompson could swim the Mediterranean with all the "testing of the waters" he's done, but he still has yet to take the plunge and officially announce his candidacy.
Thompson got razed for wearing expensive Gucci loafers to the Iowa State Fair, but he did eat some meat on a stick and he even held a pig.
Would he do all that if he weren't running?
On the radio show "Mickelson in the Morning," Thompson said, "I have declared that I'm going to declare."
Thompson has certainly been honing his message.
"Some people in this country apparently think if we can pull out of Iraq, our problems will be over. You and I know better than that," Thompson said in a recent speech to a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Kansas City.
And the other candidates are treating him like a rival.
When Thompson wrote on his blog Tuesday that he'd spent a lot of time in New York City filming the TV show "Law and Order" and that he doesn't like the city's gun laws, a spokeswoman for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani shot back.
"Those who live in New York in the real world — not on TV — know that Rudy Giuliani's record of making the city safe for families speaks for itself," said Giuliani's communications director, Katie Levinson, in a statement.
Enough Dress Rehearsal
Some are getting more than a little annoyed with Thompson's long rehearsal for a run. One liberal blogger just filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission saying Thompson, who's already raised more than $3.4 million, should have to play by the same rules as the other candidates.
"Fred Thompson is breaking the law and it's very important to hold him accountable. Failure to do so would create a dangerous precedent for the electoral process," said Lane Hudson, a blogger for NewsForTheLeft.com.
Thompson's organization says Hudson's complaint is "completely without merit."
When and if Thompson says those two words, "I'm running," the dress rehearsal is over and the real show starts.
"Once you do get in, you don't have time for mistakes. You don't have time to be off message. You don't have time for diversion. You have to run a flawless campaign," said Frank Donatelli, a former political director for President Reagan.
Some say that Thompson's announcement may be coming too late. One adviser told ABC News that the Thompson camp realizes "there is a point where people will lose their patience." Many believe that an announcement from Thompson will come in early September.
There are pols and then there are Statesmen... BIG DIFFERENCE!
LLS
The only statements of intent to enter are rumors started by obscure and faceless people, not connected in any way to Fred.
LLS
Timing is everything.
Hmmmmm... looks like Fred and hildeb!tch in S.C.! There is FR political posturing, then there is the reality of the electorate.
LLS
Yes, but why let facts interfer with a good rant.
Hunter's inabilibty to "break out" isn't the MSM's fault, it's his.
Hello. Here’s an update several weeks old for you: Spencer Abraham isn’t Thompson’s “campaign manager.”
I think you’re missing the point of what Thompson is doing. By not declaring—and getting ensnarled in these uselessly ridiculous “debates”, Fred can control and frame the messages he wants to get out. The MSM is angry because they can’t filter, subvert or otherwise pervert his message. Most of us understand Thompson is in the race. Only the media seems entranced by the “will he or won’t he” story angle. And the way Thompson is managing himself it’s just about the only thing the MSM thinks it can get a hook into. Oh, and there is something out there about Thompson wearing—gasp—Gucci loafers. I applaud the media for being concerned about the man’s feet, but I would much rather they report what he thinks about the issues important to him. That should be the basis for electing a President of the United States.
I wouldn’t think the equal time rule applies to non-political fictional works.
The rumors could be quelled if he announced a definite date.
Translation: We’re skeered of Fred.
I heard Hannity slip on the radio the other day and mindlessly support Giuliani.
It's more important with some so-called conservatives to be right in New York than it is to be right in conservatism. No way that Hannity could endorse Giuliani in the real world. Giuliani wants to take my hard earned money and spend some of it on killing babies and some more of it on taking my guns.
If it isn't enough that he's just cast pro-lifers and pro-gunners off the boat, he's also told fiscal conservatives that he wants to increase welfare unnecessarily.
It creates buzz and gets MILLIONS of dollars of free advertising... and there are other valid reasons that you don’t understand.
LLS
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/recall/20030812-1109-ca-recall-equaltime.html
That is what makes this so ridiculous.
And that is exactly the point...if I don't understand there are lots of other, less informed than me, and they certainly don't understand and are, as the article states, "losing patience."
Didn’t you know that?
And the masses think conservatives are intolerant...
Go figure...
Not surprising. Oreilly and Rudy have a lot in common, as both of them do with Dick Morris.
The election is 14 months away, most people don’t pay attention until Sept, which is 12 months away.
No problem.
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