Posted on 08/27/2007 10:26:03 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
TV star, ex-U.S. senator wins over Fair crowd.
Fred Thompson, the all-but-declared Republican presidential candidate, visited the Minnesota State Fair on Monday, but it was Fred Thompson, the star of NBC's "Law & Order" television show, who attracted throngs of fairgoers during his hourlong stop at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
The former U.S. senator from Tennessee shook hundreds of hands, posed for dozens of photos and autographed everything from T-shirts and Fair maps to bumper stickers and videotapes of his TV shows during his brief campaign stop at the Fair, the first one this year by a presidential candidate - announced or unannounced.
The crowds for Thompson were bigger and more excited than a typical candidate attracts at the Fair. Attribute that to familiarity borne of playing Arthur Branch, the hard-nosed district attorney, on TV.
"As I've taken him around the Fair, there are people who are absolutely not interested in politics who say, 'There's Fred Thompson,' " said Minnesota House GOP leader Marty Seifert, who escorted Thompson across the grounds.
Lori Windels of St. Paul sported a "Fred Thompson Law & Order Candidate" campaign button as she stood in line for a photo.
"I'm supporting him because he's got good conservative values, he's got the kind of laid-back personality and confidence that we need, and he looks darned presidential," Windels said.
The excitement about Thompson's visit might seem out of place for a gathering better known for its corn dogs and prize-winning heifers than its political activism. But politics has long been a side dish at the Fair. It hasn't been a place for memorable public policy pronouncements since 1901, when Vice President Teddy Roosevelt famously said the nation's foreign policy should be to "speak softly and carry a big stick."
But fairgoers love meeting celebrity politicians without having to listen to long-winded speeches. Former Gov. Jesse Ventura cemented his popularity by greeting crowds at the 1998 Fair. U.S. Sen. John McCain received a rock star's welcome as President Bush's surrogate in 2004, and later that year Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry was mobbed by fairgoers and may have won votes by properly dressing his Pronto Pup with both mustard and ketchup.
Seeking to turn fairgoers into voters, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Al Franken and Mike Ciresi are spending much of their time at the Fair trying to woo votes away from Republican Sen. Norm Coleman. All three - Franken, Ciresi and Coleman - have campaign booths at the Fair.
Thompson apparently sensed fairgoers' aversion to prolonged orations. He held his speech at the state Republican Party booth to just 40 seconds before diving into the crowd to press the flesh.
He used his brief remarks to explain to the crowd why he doesn't plan to formally announce his candidacy until September, October or November.
"All the rules got changed this year," he said, referring to other campaigns starting earlier than usual. "We weren't there when they made the rules, so I had to follow my own, which is the more traditional way of doing things.
"All I can say is, keep your powder dry."
One of Thompson's new Minnesota friends is House Minority Leader Seifert, who endorsed Thompson. He did so, Seifert said, because he thinks Thompson has the best chance of winning and thereby helping other GOP candidates.
"Obviously if I want to be speaker of the House next year, it's in my best interest to have the strongest Republican candidate at the top of the ticket," Seifert said.
After his Fair visit, Thompson attended a $1,000-a-person fundraiser in Eden Prairie, reportedly at the home of Bill and Tani Austin. The couple hosted a fundraiser, which Bush attended, on Wednesday for Coleman. That demonstrated that Thompson is "all about politics as usual," state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Brian Melendez said in a news release.
During his Fair visit, Thompson sidestepped questions about the departure of yet another high-level aide to his presidential campaign-in-waiting.
Linda Rozett, a longtime U.S. Chamber of Commerce official, is gone from his campaign organization after spending the past several weeks as communications director.
"I don't know what the story is," Thompson said. Rozett's departure was disclosed in an e-mail to staffers from campaign manager Bill Lacy.
And he won the straw poll at the state fair, where people had to write in his name because it wasn’t on the ballot. He won! Every encouragement helps.
He’s definitely in - just saving a load of funds for the inevitable smack-down with Hillary. Good strategy.
But, I’ve been told that he’s old, sick and tired.
Not to mention he doesn’t have a fire in his belly.
Next thing you know, we’ll hear that he doesn’t have a work ethic.
It’s amazing how he’s been so successful, in so many fields.
OH! Did I mention his trophy wife?
lolol
I knew he said that, but didn't know it was at the MN state fair. Cool!
Teddy Roosevelt, the great president of the early 20th Century and Fred Thompson, the great president of the early 21st Century!!
Ping!
I shook his hand at the Freedom Concert in San Diego. He is so impressive in person. Big man, big laugh, big voice, very easy going, very warm. No entourage, just one person with him. He signed for every single person who asked, regardless of the time it took. When the concert started he came and sat in the front row with the crowd! That didn’t last long. He was practically mobbed. Sean’s people came and got him and took him backstage. Pretty cool considering he was competing with Oliver North, Jon Voight, Mark Levin, Duncan Hunter (a Californian), and Sean Hannity for attention.
Oliver North. I would love to see him have a major role in the upcoming campaign! Actually, I’d like to see him run for the Senate again.
Thanks for mentioning his name!
Actually, he’s been dead for weeks. The Fred Thompson you see making appearances is a hologram. I’m sure Rove’s people are somehow connected to this. /channeling Romulans
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