He’s been practicing the part of a presidential candidate for several months, helping him illegally raising money in the form of an exploratory committee, according to accusations filed with the Federal Elections Committee. Now, Thompson’s making his audition for the White House official with a conference call to about 1,000 supporters this afternoon.
His script was written in advance: A dispirited party finds its great hope in a swashbuckling Southern senator, riding to the rescue to save Republicans from themselves.
But since the heady days of late spring, when the Fred Thompson fever seemed to infect the GOP, Thompson’s pre-campaign has been more “Gigli” than “Gone With the Wind.”
He’s posted lackluster fundraising numbers. He’s faced repeated questions about his lobbying career, his years in politics, as well as his position on abortion.
An announcement rumored for June was pushed back to July, and now early September. His political speeches have been received coolly, with few grand pronouncements or policy proposals that have lived up to his hype.
His potential supporters have grown restless, giving other candidates room to claim the conservative mantle. And, most significantly, his non-campaign has churned through staff like so many extras; Thompson is already on his third spokesman, even though he’s had nothing to announce. [DNC Daily Flipper]
Guess Thompson had to fast forward to the action before the Republicans flipped the channel.
