you and a legion of others. a reluctant pull of the lever for rudy isn't going to win the election for him. people are enthused and energized about Fred, whereas the majority of republicans are praying to God that they don't have to hold their nose and vote for Rudy.
Here's an interesting tidbit:
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070401/COLUMNIST0101/704010371/1092/NEWS01
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"Back in January, I had no idea that Fred was even thinking about it," Welch said. "I went ahead and committed to (Massachusetts Gov.) Mitt Romney because I thought he was the best of the lot that had shown interest in running. It would be very inappropriate and very unfair for me to say to Mitt Romney, 'Hey, Fred Thompson decided to run and I'm gone. Bye.' I'm not going to do anything like that. I made
a commitment, and I'm going to stick with it, so long as he is in the race.
"If he, for some reason, were to drop out, my choice would naturally be Fred Thompson."
Welch made sure to say that last sentence several times: If Romney's out, Thompson is Welch's guy.
That's a big deal. Welch estimates it will take $100 million to win the GOP nomination. If anybody can raise it, he can.
He was the Republican National Committee's finance chairman from 1977 to 1978, co-founder of the Republican Majority Fund in 1981, and he raised money for former President George Bush in 1988 and 1992. He was the national chairman for Victory '92 and a leader in President Bush's election fundraising committee. Welch was Alexander's key fundraiser when he ran for president.
Thompson, Welch said, is "a dear friend. I love him. I was heavily involved in his campaign for Senate. I've always admired him and enjoyed him and respected him, and none of that has changed."
Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Bob Davis Jr., one of Thompson's confidants, disagrees that Thompson would need to raise $100 million.
"He doesn't have to have as much as everybody else," Davis said. Because of Thompson's television, radio, legal and political careers, people already know who he is, so it would cost less money to run a campaign. He's already showing up in national polls, and hasn't spent a penny.
Other nationally respected fundraisers have contacted Thompson, Davis said, adding that "a lot of people are just keeping their powder dry at this point."
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