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Fred Thompson May Jump In Earlier...

COLUMBIA -- Ex-Sen. Fred Thompson has told Republicans that if he decides to run for president, he would enter the race earlier than anticipated -- perhaps as early as the second week of June. A Tennessee Republican said that Thompson has been convinced that he will not win unless he recruits a good staff, and that he cannot recruit a good staff unless he gets in the race.

Several RNC state chairs said that representatives for Thompson had tentatively accepted invitations to candidate events scheduled for later in the fall, a sign they interpreted as evidence of his desire to run. Members of an unofficial Draft Thompson group slid pro-Thompson fliers under the doors of RNC members and journalists attending the state chairs' meeting here. Wednesday night, they held an information dinner that attracted more than 40 Republican officials, including the state chairs of Oklahoma and California.

At last week's Council for National Policy gathering in Virginia, Thompson was quizzed by Republican activists about the heat of the fire in his belly. Thompson, according to two sources, responded that he understands he'll have to create a conventional campaign apparatus in order to move to the next level. [MARC AMBINDER]

14 Comments

Thanks for the scoop Mark!

Vote on when Fred will enter the race at

www.fredthompsonnews.com

Jump Fred Jump

I imagine at some point, the buzz (free publicity) benefits of "in the wings candidacy" get overridden by the pragmatic need to hire staff and attract serious money.

I'll admit I sorta liked the theatrics of riding in on the horse at precisely the climactic moment, but since he is running for the Presidency and not me, I guess I had better start getting used to relying on his better judgement of things.

Fred you got my vote!

Do-Nothing one term senator dreaming about presidency? What a joke!

"Do-Nothing one term senator dreaming about presidency? What a joke!"
Posted by Fredo | 05.17.07 01:46 PM

I didn't see any mention of Obama in this article.

FYI Fred served one full term and one partial term taking over from Gore. And his re-election was a landslide victory

Most of the conservatives and republicans I've talked to would support Mr. Thompson in a heartbeat if he were to declare.

I think Fred Thompson is the candidate Hillary is most afraid of because when he speaks everyone can understand him...he doesn't talk in Political BS

We have serious and complex issues to resolve in Washington. Electing someone who has never governed, never turned anything around, never fixed anything or did anything politically significant would be a disaster. Please, someone find me a candidate that can meet the demands of the job! Not an "I play a president on TV" candidate.

Great comments Mr Elliots's Son... just to add to them... FDT ran in two Senate Races and won by the largest margins in TN history... but he was in Washington getting lots of experience long before that. Funny... if the candidate has lots of experience he's "A Washington Insider and part of the problem." But if he's "only a two term Senator" then he lacks experience... that's talking out both sides of your mouth isn't it? Go Fred Go! Every State's a FRed State in 2008! www.FRedStates.com

For those who think Fred Thompson has done nothing, a little research might change your mind. He's an accomplished attorney, actor, judicial scholar and financially independent. In other words he knows the law, he's a powerful communicator and he isn't beholden to any special interests. All qualities of a great President.

Lifelong, "professional" poiticians are the bane of our government regardless of party. We need folks like Sen. Thompson who distinguish themselves in private life then serve the public out of conviction, not ego or necessity.

For God's sake Fred please jump in, June is to late you need to be in the fray now!!

I am hoping Fred will make his announcement soon. He is the one candidate I think will put Hillary in her place. I would love to see a debate between the two-he would rip her to shreds.

I bet 3 weeks and 3 days from now....Who wants some of this??

www.vote4fredthompson.com

www.draftfredthompson.com