Looking At Thompson
The Hill has an interesting analysis of the hugely successful campaign that Fred Thompson has run so far - even though he's not officially campaigning.
Clearly, Thompson is doing something right. His decision to appear on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” last night, for example, got people talking about the possibility that he’d replicate the hugely successful surprise announcement there by then-actor and now-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Just the possibility of such a late-night show-stopper was enough to steal other Republicans’ daily ration of campaign oxygen.
The last episode of the “Law & Order” television series, in which Thompson starred, brought him more attention. And he was a commentator on Fox after the most recent GOP presidential debate. It’s a pretty neat trick to be an unofficial candidate and to be able to hog the camera to comment on the happy scene of your rivals exchanging blows.
And that’s perhaps the point about the Thompson campaign so far. Everyone assumes he’s in the race, and yet, because he’s an outsider, he doesn’t have to do all the things other candidates have to do. He gets more “earned media” because the will-he-won’t-he-and-when-will-he story is more compelling than the latest policy pronouncements of candidates who have already declared.
But there comes a point, and Thompson has surely just about reached it, when a candidate needs take the plunge or look indecisive and unserious. Buzz is wonderful, but it’s like an automobile — it cannot run on fumes indefinitely.
Which is actually a good point. There is a point where Thompson has got to get in formally. The Hill points out that the knives will come out then. Of course, the knives are already out in a stealthy fashion. But they mean that the infighting will begin in earnest then. True enough. I think Thompson has been running a fantastic campaign that has kept his name in the news - a lot - and I rather suspect that his sense of timing will give his formal entry into the race much greater impact. Then the battle will become interesting.
By Denny, Wednesday, 13 June , 2007 @ 9:35 am
I think Thompson has a “Mythic quality†now due to the fact that he has not had to answer questions and come out solid on any issues. It reminds me of Colin Powell on the 2000 election, there was a huge push for him to run and part of his popularity was in the fact that he had not come down on any of the issues and alienated any of the voters. While still a “non candidate†he can pick and choose his battles playing to his strengths. After he announces he will not have that luxury.
By Quilly Mammoth, Wednesday, 13 June , 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Well, yes, other than Gun Control, Border Enforcement, Congressional Entitlements, Abortion and Foreign policy you would be correct.
By Bill Franklin, Wednesday, 27 June , 2007 @ 2:40 pm
I’d like to hear Thompson’s thoughts on Père Lebrun.