[Pistolshot]

You're right, 'it renders null and void old methods of doing things.' Fred has made his visits to a number of places(see below). These are just some of the news headlines. Also, look at the way Fred uses the internet. Quite differently from Dean, Fred is an avid blogger and web surfer. How the heck did he get a response out to Michael Moore after Moore challenged him to debate? The internet. His response to Moore came in a few hours, instead of days when the press could catch him with a microphone in his face.

It is a different campaign, Fred is on the ground shaking hands, answering questions, doing the things a candidate does, BUT he re-enforces that with his almost daily blog on the net.

I said it in April, this is going to be a very different kind of campaigning. This is going to be a YouTube campaign.

These are just some fo Fred's 'visits' in the last few months. He does have 'boots on the ground'.

Minnesota

Iowa

GOP Leadership

Texas

These early visits, coupled with his messages posted on the Imwithfred website portray all his views on a variety of subjects. Look at the other candidates. are they as prolific? Hardly. As a historian, you of all people, should be looking back on how things were done compared to the use of the advances in technology and how Fred utilizes them now.

[phothus]

Great comments, Pistolshot. Thompson is doing this his own way and succeeding - which is in large part why people like the Politico writers seem to hate him so much.

I suspect his announcement will be the death knell for several other contendors. When that happens, look for Thompson to scoop up the appropriate fundraisers and on-the-ground organizers that are available. I suspect the McCain campaign (along with the now-defunct Allen campaign) will largely become a part of the Thompson campaign.