Posted on 08/08/2007 8:59:35 AM PDT by hardback
Reagan Vet to Head Thompson Effort
Fred Thompson tapped another veteran of the Reagan era to manage his soon-to-be-announced presidential campaign today, naming former Reagan aide Bill Lacy to replace the top adviser Thompson moved aside last month.
Lacy was a low-level campaign operative for Reagan in 1980 and later served in the White House. He also helped in Thompson's 1994 Senate bid. He replaces Tom Collamore, a former executive for Altria, the parent company of tobacco giant Philip Morris.
The announcement from Thompson Wednesday took pains to avoid calling Lacy a "campaign manager," instead using the term "committee manager." In a statement, Thompson said Lacy will have "full operational control" and will report directly to him.
Lacy's appointment is an attempt to repair the damage from Collamore's departure, which prompted several other resignations. It's also a recognition that even before Thompson's official announcement, which is expected in early September, things have not been going smoothly.
The "testing the waters" committee raised less money than aides had hoped during its first month in operation, and the campaign operations have been hampered by Thompson's drawn-out tease. Thompson's wife, Jeri, has been accused by some people close to the committee of exerting too much control over the efforts.
"My immediate goal to provide stable, hands-on leadership and to retool the Thompson operation to implement a non-traditional, message-driven effort," Lacy said in the statement.
--Michael D. Shear
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
Fred is going to be a formidable candidate.
Ping #19
You and I see it the same way. Only political talking heads and political junkies are ‘worried’.
Beats me... as far as I can make out, she's an unpaid adviser, basically meaning she's a volunteer, not a hire.
‘Lacy is a Dole/Bush guy.’
Is it an indictment to be a player in GOP politics for the past couple of decades?
The big story is that most of his opponents have already tried dig up dirt or attacking him and he's still there, which means not spending a lot for TV ads to 'define' the campaign.
People seem to know who Fred is and what he stands for...
I’d be very surprised if he didn’t declare soon.
And a REAGAN guy. You seemed to have missed that in your insipid little attempt to bash anybody and everybody associated with FDT.
No. I was stating the obvious that she's attractive and that he, correction, they appear to be a happy couple. Congratulations to them both.
Abraham isn't the campaign manager. He's a chairman of some sort who's primary purpose was fund raising. They don't have a campaign manager, as it's not officially a campaign yet. It's an exploratory committee, and Lacy is the committee manager.
Well, one thing Thompson’s accomplished so far. He’s lowered expectations.
Rootie’s spent millions to draw himself into a tie with Fred as an undeclared candidate. That speaks volumes...
Fredipedia: The Definitive Fred Thompson Reference
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We'll see what happens when Fred actually gets in the game.
Not if you like Dole, LOL.
My guess is that Romney will sow up a veep slot if he wins Iowa and NH
Happiness really bothers some people. Liberals want everyone to be as miserable as they are. Most liberals are ugly inside and out so this really gets under their skin.
‘Not if you like Dole, LOL.’
I knew Bob ‘Its my turn, Damnit!’ Dole was going to loose the moment he became the candidate. First time since turning 18 I didn’t even bother to vote (I was out of town, but I doubt I would have anyway).
That said...whats that got to do with it? You expect somebody that works in politics, and has experience in political campaigns to sit out a job opportunity that only comes around nationally once every four years?
Seems unrealistic.
Ping.
How about Reagan, then?
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