Posted on 01/08/2008 1:41:44 PM PST by barryg
It takes a "Law & Order"-style investigation to find Fred Thompson on the campaign trail.
The lawyer/actor-turned-presidential candidate has been raising eyebrows for months with his unconventional approach to Campaign 2008. He participated in Saturday's ABC News debate and Sunday's Fox News candidates forum, but unlike every other candidate stumping for votes in the precious few days between Thursday's Iowa caucuses and today's New Hampshire primary, Thompson has been remarkable for his low profile.
"He's done a terrible job of acting in this campaign," said Diane Owen, an associate professor of political science at Georgetown University.
There are no big Thompson rallies such as the ones Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama held in the Granite State during the weekend. There's no "Straight Talk Express" like John McCain, who has been leading the polls here. And Hollywood hasn't come to New Hampshire to campaign with Thompson, like Chuck Norris has with Mike Huckabee or Wilford Brimley for McCain or Viggo Mortensen for Dennis Kucinich.
There wasn't one public event listed in the Manchester Union Leader, the state's mega-politics paper, for Thompson during the weekend. And around media circles, his camp has put out word that he's not going to be campaigning much.
Thompson had certified conservative credibility in a race that has shown a growing split in the GOP between religious and traditional conservatives. But ever since last year, when he appeared on "Fox News Sunday" to talk about a possible run for the presidency and later filed an exploratory committee, Thompson has been more anti-candidate than candidate.
It's that kind of attitude -- out of the norm for presidential candidates -- that has made many veteran political watchers and journalists scratch their heads and wonder what he's doing.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
*PING* !!!
Q - How can you tell when Fred Thompson is really excited?
A - It’s not easy, first you have to catch Fred awake.
As the Coca Cola parrot would say, “EN-joy!! Squawk!!” LOL
It appears all the writers in Hollywood are on strike.
Good grief. Where to even begin? Oh never mind...more tripe.
Anything out of Hollywood requires a “Barf Alert.”
He basically skipped New Hampshire, as many candidates do in various states. For better or worse, they decide not to expend the resources there.
This isn't that complicated, but Hollywood Reporter isn't really known for their political analysis.
But has he been campaigning in South Carolina?
Thanks for the crap, newbie. Where’s the toilet paper?
Fred has to do something dramatic like he would do on a gig running for president, using a dramatic voice and face of course. PS Acting won’t cut it, you need original ideas.
Hollywood Reporter? I think TMZ might even be more objective *(as hard as that is to believe) than this crap.
I had hunted around for Thompson events, and even Thompson signholders, in downtown Manchester. He did not have much of a presence here. Many Hillary hacks and even some Huckubines, though.
LOL ..I think you might be right.
The two most Conservative candidates will come in on the bottom of the New Hampshire primary. The voters there will not vote for a Conservative... definitely not enough to place them in the top three. I expect to see Hunter and Thompson at the bottom, where logic dictates they would be.
It is better to be in New Hampshire right now, where the free media is wall-to-wall.
01/ 8/2008 - 8:30 am
Radio Town Hall in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina - Stax Omega
01/ 8/2008 - 12:00 pm
Meet Fred Thompson in Lexington, SC
Lexington, South Carolina - Hudson’s Smokehouse
01/ 8/2008 - 2:55 pm
Fred Thompson Tours Downtown Camden and Drops by Camden-Chronicle Independent
Camden, South Carolina - Camden-Chronicle Independent
01/ 8/2008 - 5:30 pm
Meet Fred Thompson in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina - Birds on a Wire
01/ 9/2008 - 8:30 am
Radio Town Hall in Sumter, SC
Sumter, South Carolina - Guignard Diner
01/ 9/2008 - 11:00 am
Meet Fred Thompson in Florence, SC
Florence, South Carolina - The Drive In
01/ 9/2008 - 4:30 pm
Meet Fred Thompson in North Myrtle Beach, SC
North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Fuddrucker’s
Help me clearly understand what you're inferring here. You think the surviving Republican candidate should be:
Big Rallies! (like Clinton, Obama, Romney)
Straight Talk Express (like McCain LOL)
do a terrible "great job of acting in this campaign" (just like Mitt, right?)
I'd say you just made a perfect conservative case of great reasons to vote for Fred! Thanks!
Fred made a big mistake by doing a favor to (L&O Producer) Dick Wolf by delaying his entry. He cost himself some big donors and lots of media buzz as we all sat around. Given that, he is still head and shoulders above any other man in this race, and I wish him well.
Typical Hollywood: ignore substance, focus on flashiness.
Maybe if they find him at one of his campaign stops today, they can ask him if he’s seen Hunter, who at last report was hanging out with Elvis in an undisclosed location.
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