[ReignOfError]

Thompson, if he does run, can't use campaign contributions to buy out his T.V. contract and yes, there probably ARE all kinds of stipulations in his contract, that none of know about.

He could run a parallel legal defense fund, which would probably draw on the same pool of donors and wouldn't have FEC restrictions.

[nopardons]

I'm not a lawyer, but I don't think that he can do that.

[barkeep]

As an issue, fugedabowdit. I grew up in NC watching Jesse Helms on WRAL, which one minute spot vanished when he first ran. Reagan gave us a little over a year free from "Bedtime for Bonzo" reruns, and Pat Buchannan gave up a lucrative radio show in '96. Been there, done that, not a big deal.