Wild Card
Speculation continues to grow that actor turned politician turned actor Fred Thompson might throw his hat into the ring and chase the 2008 Republican nomination. This is a huge wild card in all the early prognostication on the nomination. Despite coming from far behind in the money-raising sweepstakes, he has got to have the other candidates nervous. That voice alone is worth a lot of points at the polls.
If he decides to run, Thompson would face many steep challenges, not the least of which is financial. McCain, Giuliani and Romney could each report having raised at least $10 million during the first three months of the year, and it would take months for Thompson, a trial lawyer, to develop the kind of campaign organizations that several others have already built. And Thompson has already drawn fire from some social conservatives.
As a senator, he produced a conservative voting record but broke with the Republican leadership to support McCain's campaign finance legislation. Recently, he joined other Washington politicians who came to the defense of convicted White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Thompson has urged Bush to pardon Libby for lying to investigators.
At the same time, Thompson is a certified television and movie star. His face is seen daily in millions of homes, and his character on "Law & Order" exudes the kind of blunt-spoken, get-it-done leadership that voters tell pollsters they crave.
"I've often said if I had his voice I'd be president of the United States today," McCain, a longtime friend, told Wolf Blitzer on CNN this week. Thompson was among a handful of Senate colleagues who endorsed McCain for president in 2000. Another, Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), is also considering a White House bid.
Thompson traded on his movie and TV celebrity in his 1994 Senate candidacy, when he captured the seat vacated by then-Vice President Al Gore, employing his Southern drawl as he traveled across Tennessee in a bright-red pickup truck.
As far as name and face recognition, he far and away tops pretty much anyone in the race from either party. More importantly, he actually has a lot of serious credentials that make him an attractive candidate. He could make this into a very interesting race indeed.
By Gayle Miller, Thursday, 29 March , 2007 @ 7:05 am
It would be difficult for me to choose. I really like Duncan Hunter BUT Fred Thompson - now that is a man with cojones and gravitas - and probably more attractive to the voters. He’d probably get the Reagan nostalgia vote too!
By Quilly Mammoth, Thursday, 29 March , 2007 @ 9:27 am
I’ve written Thompson and urged him to run
By Tom, Thursday, 29 March , 2007 @ 2:10 pm
I’ve also heard Fred standing in for Paul Harvey’s News & Comments.
By skh.pcola, Thursday, 29 March , 2007 @ 5:42 pm
I would enthusiastically support Fred Thompson.