Posted on 06/26/2007 11:44:34 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Former Sen. Fred Thompson has taken his first step toward organizing a campaign for Iowa's leadoff presidential nominating caucuses by hiring a top Iowa Republican campaign staff member, aides to Thompson confirmed Monday.
Thompson has signed Andrew Dorr to serve as his Midwest political director should the actor and Tennessee Republican run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
"This is the kind of stellar team Senator Thompson is attracting as he continues to move forward in his determinations," Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo said. "It means Senator Thompson will be ready, should he decide to run, and will have the right team in place to be successful when it's time to go to the caucuses."
Dorr most recently worked as 2006 GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Nussle's political director, having started in Iowa caucus politics in 2000 for then-Gov. George W. Bush. Dorr, 28, later worked for Bush's re-election campaign as deputy Midwest political director, concentrating on Iowa.
Thompson is expected to announce his plans in the coming weeks. This month he formed an organization that allows him to raise money to hire staff and travel as he decides whether to join the crowded 2008 GOP candidate field.
He has not decided yet whether he will participate in the Ames straw poll, a high-profile Iowa GOP fundraiser set for mid-August.
Details for the event are taking shape while state party officials await word from Thompson.
Iowa Republican Party officials have set the speaking order and determined where each of the eight candidates planning to attend the party fundraising event will pitch their tents around Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum on Aug. 11.
Thompson was not represented at a meeting in Des Moines last week where the presidential campaigns planning to attend the Ames event were assigned their spots, officials said.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been the most aggressive about organizing for the fundraiser, will start the series of 20-minute speeches at 12:30 p.m.
Romney will be followed by U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Chicago businessman John Cox, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas.
The eight have committed at least $15,000 each to reserve space to feed and entertain their supporters and other activists.
Individual tickets cost $35 and allow holders to vote at one of dozens of voting machines set up in and around Hilton.
In the past, campaigns have bought blocks of tickets and often bused their supporters to the event.
Earlier this month, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he would not prepare for the costly straw poll arrangements, and Sen. John McCain of Arizona abandoned his plans to compete in the straw poll. Their names will still be on the ballot.
Giuliani's and McCain's decisions have thrown into question the significance of the Ames event to the 2008 presidential nomination race. The event has become a traditional first test of Republican candidates' strength in Iowa, the leadoff caucus state.
Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Iowa Republican Party, said Fred Thompson would be inserted into the speaking lineup should he decide to participate in the straw poll.
"If Fred gets in or the others change their mind, they'll get put in the middle," Laudner said. "The others don't want to wait on planning their day."
Fred Thompson? He's just a lazy old looking lobbyist with a trophy wife. He's not a real conservative like Mitt Romney. He has no chance. Romney's ahead in all the polls that matter. Fred Thompson might have filled out a questionnaire 13 years ago that might be questionable. Can't we just admit that because of that questionnaire, Mitt Romney has been a true conservative all of his life? Can't we just stipulate that from the start and be HONEST about these things? < /Willardian>
Romney has a good organization on the ground, but he needs to keep feeding it money. That isn’t a problem for him yet, but 7 months is an eternity in politics, and if he runs into a few hitches, he could see some of that money drying up.
So, yes, right now all candidates need to measure themselves against Romney’s organization in Iowa, but that doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk for him and Thompson can’t build a very strong organization as well.
Look, I am not bashing him. Just saying, at the end of the day, he may not be as strong in Iowa as you think. Believe me, Mitt is not indestructable.
See, that's a much better change of tone. But if it's okay with you, I won't be takin' the word of the co-founder of MyManMitt that Fred doesn't have a chance. Just a little too much conflict of interest, IMHO.
That’s fine if you don’t take my word. I didn’t expect you two.
Just wanted to plant some seeds of reality in your mind.
What's that? Some Log Cabin Republican spinoff?
Problem is,
I’ve seen it first hand.
I don’t expect people to automatically believe me, but maybe just think twice when they pettle the theory the Fred will suck all the air out.
What do you mean? Please explain.
What do you mean what do I mean? I asked a question. That’s what I meant. To ask a question.
You’ve seen what first hand?
Are you one of them thar psychic power guys like Miss Cleo?
I guess I mean how would you come to that conclusion and think it’s a good question. I don’t understand the link between MyManMitt and LCR. Maybe explain some of this.
In my language, we have peddle, pedal and petal, but not pettle.
One asks questions and then uses the information garnered from the answers to those questions to then form a conclusion.
I only got up to the question part. I gather you are saying that MyManMitt is NOT a spinoff of the Log Cabin Republicans. Yes?
But personally it seems more like you are trying to create an air of inevitability, to discourage Fred supporters from even trying to get Fred a decent showing at the Iowa poll. Unfortunately, this reeks at best of a deep discomfort with Fred in Iowa, or at worst, desperation.
In my language, we have peddle, pedal and petal, but not pettle.LOL! I knew that one would get you : )
It’s the little things. ;O)
We all have to learn the ways and language of the Willardians. They do the trolling that other FReepers just won’t do.
I only got up to the question part. I gather you are saying that MyManMitt is NOT a spinoff of the Log Cabin Republicans.
Being that I have a wife and three kids, I am thinking probably not.
Now how about you educate us on why the percieved link? I am sure it will be fascinating.
*snicker*
I lived in Central Iowa from 1974 to 2001. Worked on several presidential (Al Haig, Steve Forbes)& other campaigns. Fred Thompson doesn’t need to win in Iowa, since the MSM won’t expect him to. On the other hand, if Mitt Romney loses in Iowa, he’s pretty much done.
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