Posted on 09/04/2007 9:19:50 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
(Republican's Rollout Includes TV Ad, Talk Show Appearance And Internet Video, All In 24 Hours)
As a veteran actor, Fred Thompson knows something about entering a stage. It's all about the build-up.
The former Tennessee senator plans to announce his official entry into the Republican presidential contest on Thursday. But he'll pique interest first on Wednesday with an ad aired during a GOP presidential debate from New Hampshire that Thompson will otherwise skip.
By then he will have taped an appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," which will air about an hour after the debate ends in many U.S. households. Come midnight, he'll post a 15-minute video announcement on his official Web site.
The face time with Leno and the debate ad on the Fox network are the moves of a candidate who has already proven his aptitude using the media, from television to the Internet. While his main rivals - Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain - parry debate questions, Thompson will pretty much control his own message.
Thompson aides want as many eyes on the Web video as possible. The debate ad and a follow-up commercial on Thursday will instruct viewers to go online and get their undiluted message straight from the candidate.
"We think one of the strongest weapons this campaign has is Fred Thompson's ability to connect directly with the public," said Todd Harris, Thompson's communications director. "We want to drive as much traffic as possible to the Web site."
Following that media drum roll, Thompson will make his first campaign appearance as a declared candidate Thursday afternoon in Iowa.
Thompson is hardly the first to use the Internet and media to build up public interest. In January, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her Democratic presidential bid with a Webcast. In contrast, Sen. Barack Obama chose a more traditional route, announcing to a crowd in his home state of Illinois.
What stands out for Thompson is his blend of paid advertising, talk-show appearance, Internet and stump speech - all in less than 24 hours.
"That's the modern way to do it," said Tobe Berkovitz, the interim dean at Boston University's college of communications. "Especially if people are looking for something new on the Republican side. People have had plenty of time to look at Rudy or Mitt or McCain. So it makes sense for Thompson to march to his own campaign drummer."
Thompson's debate ad and Leno appearance could pose a risk, highlighting for voters Thompson's decision to forgo an exchange of views in New Hampshire with the remainder of the Republican field.
Romney spokesman Kevin Madden pointedly noted Tuesday that Romney has traversed the state of New Hampshire, addressing voters and giving interviews.
"Tomorrow night is an opportunity to spend an hour and half with New Hampshire voters and talk to them about issues that are important to them," Madden said. "Contrast that with 30 seconds in a paid ad."
But Harris said the point of the ad is to remind the public that Thompson is on the immediate horizon and that voters should keep an open mind.
"For every person watching that debate who thinks they've made up their mind, there are probably going to be 20 who haven't decided," he said.
Thompson has made ample use of his Web site over the summer as he pursued a "testing the waters" campaign. By not announcing his candidacy, Thompson was allowed to raise money to explore the possibility of a presidential bid without having to meet certain federal election disclosure requirements. At the same time, Thompson could not advertise, describe himself as a presidential candidate or raise more money that his "testing the waters" efforts would consume.
A liberal blogger has asked for an FEC investigation into whether Thompson violated prohibitions on fundraising. On Tuesday, the nonpartisan Project for Excellence in Journalism, a research group, described Thompson's Web site as far more interactive and sophisticated than that of his rivals. The site offers a collection of videos, a personal Thompson blog and various solicitations to raise money.
Lane Hudson, who asked the Federal Election commission to investigate Thompson, has cited those activities as further evidence that Thompson's unannounced campaign violated federal regulations.
"That's an irrelevant assessment because in a few days you will see Fred Thompson mixing it up with reporters and taking tough questions from voters," Harris said.
Here they come...
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
What's the rush Fred? Think it over.
I know it would be good for your guy if Fred would go away...
Nice Pic on your home page BTW. Mitt has lovely hair. I am surprised someone from my home state would like the guy, but whatever..
Ping!
Got my “Fred 08” bumper sticker in the mail today! Woo-hoo!
Whatever happens, this is going to be fascinating to watch unfold.
You mean the demorats websites? Ha ha. Nobody said that they were educated. Sounds like Air America trying to contend with El Rushbo.
“”Whatever happens, this is going to be fascinating to watch unfold.””
No kidding
Squadron of moonbats I'd say, for the most part. When Fred is elected they are going to go absolutely berserk, it will be a sight to see!
IMO Thompson is delivering himself a fatal blow by missing the debate.
He has been jerking us around since the 4th of July and is getting too slick for me and I am starting to suspect his health is not as good as he said it was. He looks terrible and had to use a golf cart to get around the Fair and some of the sound bites I have seen lately don’t portray him as beeing on top of his game.
Had he taken part and dominated he would have clearly established himself as a front runner rather then playing catch up to Guliani who clearly has superior executive credentials and conservative accomplishments.
Hang it up Fred and enjoy the family for what time you have left. /sarc
These damn campaigns are starting so far in advance of the election by the time we get to them, we’re damn tired. And the candidates (Like Hillary) have told us ten different stories.
She’s been running for the whitehouse since 1990 and collecting money for her run since 2000, if not before that.
“Got my “Fred 08” bumper sticker in the mail today!”
Same here.
I hear he will have a commercial on just before the debate.
Guiliani's "conservative accomplishments?" What? Maybe I've been asleep for a while, but unless being anti-gun with a passion, pro-gay marriage and pro-abortion are "conservative" stances on those issues, then Rudy isn't so conservative.
He does have executive experience, I like his foreign policy stances, I assume he's for lower taxes and less regulation to improve economic growth - those are good things, but they fall into the catagory of "absolute minimum expectations" for a Republican candidate...along with being AGAINST gun control, AGAINST gay marriage, and at least SILENT on abortion (which isn't, for me, such a critical issue on the federal level, but that's me).
Oh, and tell me, what experience does he have in the private sector? Thompson has quite a bit, even if it is working for others. He still had to hawk his wares, and he is far more conscious of the effects of taxes and regulations on business and individuals than Rudy.
Sorry, Rudy isn't even close to being conservative. Maybe for NY and the Northeast he is, but not in the rest of the country.
Is Fred Thompson perfect. No - no one is, even Reagan wasn't. But to me, Thompson is the least imperfect candidate that actually stands a chance of being elected (I like Duncan Hunter better, but he's mostly unknown and therefore has no chance to win IMHO). You have to have a Republican in the White House to prevent foreign policy disasters (which are still possible, but which are a virtual certainty with Dems) and to have decent judges and Justices nominated (again, many Republican nominees have been outright disasters or only so-so, but virtually all Dem nominees are uber-liberal activists).
Rudy is divisive within the Republican Party - lots of folks simply won't, under any circumstances, vote for him in the General Election (including me, because of the gun issue). I don't think that Thompson has that negative, and if he selects a good Veep he'll pick up the more moderate and liberal Republicans and lots of the undecided.
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