Fred Waiting Until July
Ready To Run, But Not Decided
By California Yankee Posted in 2008 — Comments (19) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson will wait a little longer to decide whether to run for president.
Last week, Thompson said he is "ready to run," but not decided:
He told Cate he’s “ready to run” personally, and that opening an exploratory campaign committee would be the logical first step.
He wouldn’t commit to any timetable, but suggested that he thinks voters need to know before fall what their choices in the race will be.
Thompson also implied he would make a decision by September:
He wouldn’t commit to any timetable, but suggested that he thinks voters need to know before fall what their choices in the race will be.
His decision may come sooner. Read on ...
According to Chuck Raasch, political editor for Gannett News Service, there are several reasons why Thompson may announce whether he's running around July 1:
First, July is the start of the next three-month fundraising reporting schedule. If Thompson were to announce in June, the fundraising clock would start ticking and an unimpressive quarterly fundraising report released in July could dampen the enthusiasm his teasing candidacy has enjoyed this spring.
Second, Thompson already is on TV more than his potential rivals. His campaign tease is getting more publicity than many of the announced presidential candidates are getting. Should Thompson announce he's running, the broadcasting fairness doctrine would place Thompson's acting career on hiatus.
Third, Thompson needs time to deal with his multiple acting and business obligations, including his radio commentary for ABC.
Though he’s not a declared candidate, and hasn’t even formed an exploratory committee, Thompson still registers third in polls, behind the two Republican leaders, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, and ahead declared candidates, former Governors Romney, Huckabee, and Tommy Thompson.
Waiting until September, like the strategy adopted by former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, is a mistake. It is now less likely that a successful campaign can be announced just weeks before the Iowa caucuses as Bill Clinton did in 1992. The front loading of the 2008 primaries, and 20 candidates, requires an earlier commitment.
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Fred Waiting Until July 19 Comments (0 topical, 19 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
...several more months of Fred Thompson being "the real winner" in any given poll/debate.
And Newt is waiting until the end of September. Newt is a smart guy. I think he just wants to get in late so he can use the platform and press to express his views and steer the debate. He can't win and waiting until the end of September is just plain dumb if he wants to be a serious contender. I think he just wants to use the spotlight to advance his ideas.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=3171298&page=1
I also think Thompson is dropping the ball. Not only will his fundraising and organization lag behind, but it will reinforce the perception that he is lazy even if it is unfair.
First as you mention he doesn't have to report Q2 numbers. I think corollary to Fred!'s flirtation and his signaling that he will run will have dampen the other candidates fundraising for the quarter. Which means that Fred will declare on July 1st and then a few weeks later the other campaigns will report their lackluster fundraising - giving Fred! another boost... I do not believe that Fred! is counting on this, but it could be a beneficial side effect.
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The CIA has better politicians than it has spies - Fred Thompson
Fred is doing a fundraiser for the Connecticut Republican Party next week. Should be interesting in that Governor Rell, who is a registered Republican, surprised the state by rolling out a massive tax and spend proposal in her budget address in January.
The Connecticut Republican Party showed some amazing spine - in submitting an alternative budget with no tax increase. The public opinion polling on Rell's Socialist Utopian Vision has been poor. Last week, Rell said she had looked at the revenue numbers, and, surprise surprise, may 'not need the tax increase'. The Dems, who were cautiously dancing in the aisles in February, are feeling as though they had a "Lucy Brown and the Football" number done to them, despite their veto proof control of the CT legislature. The greatest sign of life in the CT Republican party in years.
Fred is obviously going to roll out his Reaganesque view on taxes and spending, and I imagine the Governor will introduce him and try to bask in his sunlight. But they couldn't be coming from a more diametrically opposed viewpoint.
I do wonder and worry a bit about Fred's "wait it out" approach. I think July would be okay to announce, but September might be too late. Should be interesting to see what he has to say at the event.
According to the Washington Times, the announcement could come in the next few weeks. Apparently, his speech was very well recieved at the CNP on Saturday night, and some Christian Conservative leaders said it could come very soon. They are ready to back him. I've heard the July 1 argument, and it could be accurate. I don't see him waiting any longer than that though.
With Thompson making references to the Declaration as well as the Constitution, a Fourth-of-July announcement (or around that date) might make sense.
"People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors." -Edmund Burke
My feeling on Fred Thompson is that until he debates some of the other candidates I will not support him. Just because someone can deliver speeches, which I am not sure he has written, or portrays a strong character on a TV show does not make them a strong candidate to me. To me that is the same as Martin Sheen who played the president on TV was a variable contender for the Left last election. Fred's record in the Senate was good but not outstanding in my view. I am looking for someone with actually experience running a Government.
may not always be the best thing. Based on the track record of some of the other Republican candidates, I'd be hard pressed to believe their experience in government can be that much help. I too would like to hear Fred! in an open debate, and I believe that he will come across quite well. However, let's face it - the debate format as used today is nothing but soundbites for the MSM to regurgitate in the 15 seconds between commercials that they reserve for news. I'd dearly love to see real debates, without some nanny moderator that lasted for at least an hour. The final cadidate for each side should do at least half a dozen of these, live. But alas, in today's pre-packaged and fully marketed world, such a thing will never happen.
Those canned debtes and soundbites are the key to the general election. GOP needs to make sure their candidate can be quick on their feet and can play the MSM and the soundbite game. These early debates allow voters to see how candidates handle the pressure and they also give candidates time to hone their skills and sharpen their message.
Republicans with any experience actually effectively running a government. Our track record for getting elected is pretty good. Our track record for actually doing anything with Democrat-built governments; not so good.
In Vino Veritas
the Newt and Fred thing is getting annoying, we need a real candidate in this race
As the primary instigator author of the Southern Comfort Theory of the 2008 Election, and as a Mitt Romney supporter (but not yet a devotee, if you catch the difference) I'd like to see Thompson run. I also don't mind him taking his sweet time and deciding *when* to announce, and clearing his plate of as many prior obligations as possible before he does.
If an outsider like Thompson is going to make a real go of it, it makes a lot of sense to start the race in brand new shoes and while he's not running on any other tracks, and can end a full round of fundraising with positive numbers.
Good for him for biding his time. I actually wish Romney had done the same, but what's done is done.
this is an extreme front loaded primary process now.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
He should never have allowed the speculation to get this far if he wasn't serious about running. Does Hillary have his FBI file or something?
thing is annoying. Starting June 2008 would give everyone enough time.
That doesn't mean he'd be a good president. Are we Democrats who just fetishize actors and think they know everything?
I'm getting more and more worried about Thompson as a candidate. I like him and I'm open to supporting him. But, he has to really want the job. Campaigning for President is extremely hard. You have to be committed. This maybe I will, maybe I won't attitude, makes him look weak and indecisive. He can't wait too much longer. The bloom is already coming off the rose.
He seems to be missing his window. Mitt Romney is likely to have $100 million by September.
I want the GOP to win in 2008, and I'm open to the idea that Fred Thompson might be the best hope for conservatives, given his personal gravity. Plus, given that Thompson is even popular with the moderate wing of the party over at GOPProgress, I'm all for a unifying GOP candidate like Thompson. But he needs to get in the game, start debating, and start raising money. I think he's taking too much sweet time.