Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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Posted on 09/10/2007 10:58:42 AM PDT by SmithL
WASHINGTON — When Fred Thompson finally acknowledged what everybody already knew — that he’s running for president — he did it in a most unconventional way.
He went on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He skipped a television debate with the other GOP candidates in New Hampshire and ran his first campaign ad right before the broadcast began. Then he went on the Web in what amounted to a 15-minute infomercial and spelled out his reasons for diving into the race.
Is this any way to get to the White House?
Probably not, according to political scientists who’ve been closely watching Thompson’s unorthodox campaign. But, they say, it’s a good start.
“By using ‘The Tonight Show,’ he raises (media) coverage right away and potentially allows people to take a look at him,” said Joan McLean, a politics and government professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. “And that is, right now, what he has to do — he has got to get people to look at him.
“It’s sort of like a dating process. On the first date, what you want to do is be clever, intriguing, and you want to get the second date.”
Everything changes for Thompson now that he’s officially in the race, said Anthony Nownes, an associate professor of political science at the University of Tennessee.
“I think most people have known for several months that he is running, but he has done a wonderful job of stimulating the media enough to keep them talking about whether he’s going to run and keeping his name in the headlines,” Nownes said.
“That ends now because he’s officially in. Obviously he has to change his approach from ‘will I or won’t I’ to ‘what will I do if I’m president.’ ”
Thompson, a former U.S. senator from Tennessee and actor best known for his role on “Law and Order,” is hardly the first politician to hit television’s talk-show circuit.
Back in 1992, Bill Clinton put on a pair of hip sunglasses and played the saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who’s also seeking the Republican nomination for president, has turned up regularly on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”
Nor is Thompson’s reliance on the Internet as a campaign device all that novel.
Four years ago, Howard Dean’s savvy use of the Web helped establish him as the Democratic front-runner, until an ear-splitting scream halted his momentum. This year, Democrats John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama all announced their campaigns with Web videos.
But Thompson’s entry into the race stands out for a couple of reasons.
For some, his decision to announce on “The Tonight Show” is reminiscent of another actor/politician — Arnold Schwarzenegger, who used Leno’s set as the launching pad for his successful campaign for governor of California.
But, perhaps more significantly, in going the late-show route, Thompson chose to ignore one of the more traditional political forums — the presidential debate. Not only did Thompson skip the New Hampshire debate, which took place on the same night he made his announcement, he aired his first campaign ad right before his rivals stepped behind the podium.
It was a big risk, but one that paid off, said Paul Freedman, who studies campaign strategies.
“He was more notable by his absence, and (the other candidates) were literally forced to acknowledge his absence, to say something about it,” said Freedman, an associate professor of politics at the University of Virginia. “He was more present by being absent.”
Thompson’s appearance on the talk show and in the Web video played to his strength as an actor in front of a camera and put him in a controlled setting that he wouldn’t have benefited from had he shown up at the debate, Freedman said.
By avoiding the stage with the other candidates, Thompson was able to steer clear of questions that he might not want to answer and was able to exercise greater control over what was said, how it was said and when it was said.
But Thompson can’t stay away from the debates forever, Freedman said.
“If he misses the next one, people will credibly start showing up with signs that say, ‘Where is Fred?’ and start saying, ‘What is he avoiding?’ ” Freedman said.
While Thompson seems to have gotten off to a good start, Freedman said, television and Web campaigning are no replacement for old-fashioned politicking. Hence Thompson’s decision to head off to Iowa, site of the first-in-the-nation caucuses, the day after his announcement on Leno.
“It’s still not possible to avoid shaking hands in 2007 and 2008,” he said. “You’ve really got to get in there and mix things up and let people see your smiling face.”
Likewise, Thompson needs to raise lots of money — his initial fund-raising efforts came up short — to build up his campaign organization and show that he’s a serious contender, said John Geer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
Nownes agreed.
“I don’t think he would have decided to do this if he didn’t think he could raise a lot of money,” he said. “But I think his showing in the first couple of primaries will be very important. People like to go with a winner, and if he doesn’t live up to expectations, I think he’s going to have a rough time.”
I dunno, I hear Fred just doesn’t have any fire in the belly....
/
I love it. “His initial fundraising efforts came up short.” even though he took in 10 times as much as Giuliani in the same period.
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
WARNING: If you wish to join, be aware that this ping list is EXTREMELY active.
It was just gas, but this too shall pass...
Another contradiction. Its either good or its not. I think Fred has handled his official announcement in a unique and successful fashion.
Yup. Thumbed his nose at the Republican field and now, by skipping the Value Voter Debate in Florida Sept. l7, is mooning the Christian Conservatives in the Party.
>> He went on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” He skipped a television debate with the other GOP candidates in New Hampshire and ran his first campaign ad right before the broadcast began. Then he went on the Web in what amounted to a 15-minute infomercial and spelled out his reasons for diving into the race.
People always say this as if the primary is tomorrow, and Thompson has just missed his last chance to appear in a televised debate.
The real primary campaign is just starting. No one, outside of journalists and political junkies, pays attention prior to Labor Day. Most voters may not know there have been several debates already - and those that do know, are aware of what a collossal waste of time most of them were.
There will be plenty of time for Thompson to appear in plenty of debates between now and the primaries. By appearing on the Tonight Show, Thompson reached a larger, broader, audience that wouldn’t be touched by a random GOP debate consisting of a couple of candidates, and a half-dozen political irrelevancies.
Thompson is doing fine.
H
I was disappointed that Fred didn’t commit to attending the Values Voters debate on September 17. It would set him apart from the other front runners.
FDT in the lead 26% to 22% RG.
Nice
He didn't intend to. He'll be at the next one, as he described to Laura Ingraham, up there on stage with the rest of them, waiting for a fish. But he likely won't take part in all of them.
So then explain why he's skipping the Values Voter debate...?
Just who is this Value Voters group, and why should they assume that just because they call a debate, all of the candidates should attend? We have had plenty of debates, and most folks haven't bothered to watch; why have another one? For the money that it's going to cost to stage a debate, why doesn't the Values Voters group just send each candidate a list of detailed questions, get the answers, create a booklet and send it to everyone on their fundraising list. It would probably be less expensive to do that, anyway, and it would do double duty!
Oh, and BTW, I'm conservative, and a Christian, and it sure won't offend me if Fred, or anyone else, doesn't show up at the debate.
Fred’s still hot property, despite your ‘mooning’ of every Fred thread, cheeky one.
>Oh, and BTW, I’m conservative and Christian, and it sure won’t offend me if Fred or anyone else doesn’t show up at the debate.<
As far as I can gather, Values Voters is a conglomeration of Christian Conservative organizations and individuals who are watchmen on the wall to keep the voting public informed on candidates and issues.
The people listed in the article are all highly respected high profile individuals devoted to our country, our freedoms and our future security.
You can Google ValuesVoters and get more information if you’d like. God bless.
Now Fred is really beating up on the Rudester! LOL!
As I said before, they'd do a better service by compiling an information booklet and sending it to all the people on their fundraising lists. That would put all the information about all the candidates in one place.
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