Thursday, August 30, 2007

FRED THOMPSON

Fred's in, Formal Announcement Late Next Week (UPDATED)

Just in case you didn't see the news in the Corner, heard from one of my Thompson guys - today at 4:30 p.m., the not-quite-campaign will be announcing that they are going to become an actual campaign. Fred's in, and the formal announcement will come sometime in the latter half of next week.

Thompson won't be participating in the September 5 debate... ya think we'll be hearing some jabs in his direction from the other candidates that evening? I wonder if the organizers, taking a cue from the impatience of the New Hampshire Union Leader, will set up an extra podium to underscore their irritation that Thompson is missing it...

UPDATE: Most of Fred's rivals are being quiet - no John McClaine-esque, "Welcome to the party, pal!" greetings - but one strategist affiliated with one of Thompson's rivals was willing to comment, if he wasn't named.

Regarding my semi-joking prediction that New Hampshire debate organizers will include an extra podium to emphasize Thompson’s absence on Sept. 5, this strategist says, “Don’t laugh. They might actually do that. Mark my words, New Hampshire voters are not going to take that well – they’ll see it as a snub. Thompson might be repeating the mistakes George Bush made in 2000 – there was this sense that he wasn’t coming and courting them enough, and they held it against him. Announcing one day after their debate? He’s just gonna regret that.”

“I don’t understand the Thompson strategy,” the strategist says. “He should have engaged in the Iowa straw poll.  Expectations were so low – he could be Huckabee right now, and instead, Huckabee is Huckabee right now. I mean, if you want a conservative with a drawl, why not go with one who has some momentum?”

UPDATE: The Washington Post says Thompson will appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno the night before the official announcement. Was Arnold Schwarzenegger the last candidate to announce his bid on Jay's couch?

I alos would note over on AnkleBitingPundits - a site that includes McCain man Patrick Hynes as a contributor - they have a quote from an unaffiliated New Hampshire "Republican Insider" ripping Thompson for the timing, declaring Thompson has "chosen to be in the comfy confines of a Hollywood entertainment studio on the same night that his competitors are facing the voters in the most critical of primary states."

YET ANOTHER UPDATE: RedState: "September 6, 2007: "Fred will tell US about his plans, and explain just what he has in mind for this country via Web cast on that day as well. Following that, Fred will take two tours across parts of America, winding up in his home town in Tennessee on September 17th for a "welcome home" party."

08/30 03:38 PMShare