Posted on 08/30/2007 1:42:12 PM PDT by SmithL
Des Moines, Iowa (AP) --
Republican Fred Thompson, whose entry into the presidential race has been long anticipated, will officially launch his candidacy Sept. 6 in a webcast on his campaign site, followed by a five-day tour of early primary states, The Associated Press has learned.
The preliminary campaign of the former Tennessee senator and "Law & Order" actor is to disclose details about how he will formally enter the race in a Thursday afternoon conference call with supporters.
House parties will be held nationwide on Sept. 6. A tour of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina will quickly follow the Internet announcement on , with later stops in Florida, and a homecoming event in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., on Sept. 15.
On Wednesday, Thompson will appear on NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" but he won't participate with his Republican rivals in a debate that same night in New Hampshire.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
That is an interesting supposition. thanks.
I believe current candidates want into the debates for name exposure and camera face time. I am just thinking out loud here in that Fred has gotten an enormous amount of camera time and participated in 0 debates so far and yet is in “2nd place” (which is meaningless at this point in time.
Any thoughts on how the press would react to his non particpation?
I am not against it, just thinking outsdide the box. I just dont watch debates and make up my own opinion about candidates from other places than controlled debates.
Personally I think this is a very smart move by Fred and his team.
Let the other candidates wear each other down, let them attack each other and let the stronger ones weed out the weaker ones.
By the time he does enter his first debate, the field should be much smaller and so he will get more attention and more air time (with less time to make mistakes).
Besides, Fred will probably get more public attention by appearing on Leno. I’m just guessing, but I think Leno will probably get higher ratings with Fred than a Republican debate would with or without him. Plus in that more casual setting, sitting down as a Hollywood person with another Hollywood person, he will appear more affable and appealing to more Americans that the stiff debaters of either party, standing behind podiums trying answer questions by regurgitating campaign sound bites instead of honestly answering the questions. But I think once he does enter a debate, given his comfort with being in front of the camera, he’ll clean the other candidate’s clocks, if not on substance then certainly on delivery.
He’s been running an “exploratory” campaign that allowed him to raise money, he has had time to garner support before the “official” announcement and since he’s not been an official candidate, he was able to get his message out via blogs and op-ed pieces without entering the “fray” and having to do the State Fair – Hot Dog Eating - Baby Kissing silliness the other candidates did.
By entering the race and the debates late, he doesn’t have to respond to the fringe candidates and he can position himself as the “outsider” candidate and with the all time low approval ratings that Congress and most other politico’s have, it’s the smart thing to do.
Thanks
Getting a little overwrought there, e-betty, don't you think...
Fair point.
I have not seen any debating skills in the past debates as they are media laugh alongs (IMO). They only serve the media. Real debates are way different in my opinion.
From what I am observing here is that there are 2 camps. Those who support other candidates and dont care for the fact that FRED hasnt gotten into the race yet and their candidates have.
The second set seems to me to be those who support Fred and expect him to be “the saviour” by cutting every one to ribbons.
I believe both “sides” are misguided and that Fred’s running won’t have much affect either way. To high of expectations put on Fred.
That is the reason for my question asking about him entering debates or not and how the media may react. It would keep him “apart” from the others. FYI, I support no candidate at this time.
An announcement to come out from behind Hannity’s skirt....how quaint.
Good point. Don't you have Fred Fever! He walks on water and slays the G-Man and the Morman with just one sound bite.
I hope Fred's the real deal but his Hamlet act has been damaging.
GIT 'ER DONE!
Z-z-z-z-z...
You will be even more enthused about how he expresses them; straight forward, no evasion to questions, no spin, no excuses, etc. He will make short order of his meek Republican competitors this Fall and the Democrat nominee next Fall.
You nailed it. This explains the delay.
No, no one likes a tease.
And no conservative likes a liberal posing as a conservative which most of our candidates are doing.
I’ll admit I’m tired of the stories of he’ll annnounce....today, tomorrow, next week etc. I think part of that is his campaign’s fault, or at least some of the staffer’s on that campaign floating dates. I think part of it is the media (conservative and liberal) hearing a rumor and jumping on it without substantiating it. No matter either way, it’s result is that people are tired of the wait.
In the end it comes down to this. Shun him for the campaign being a tease, or support a conservative that has a shot at taking out Rudy and the Dem nominee. That is IF you believe he’s a conservative. Me? I can forgive the tease in exchange for a legit conservative frontrunner.
I’m leaning toward Thompson being that individual, still want to see him against the others in debates and parrying back and forth. Only because IF you are a liberal those types of settings will expose you. Though his writings have made a good impression so far.
Don’t worry. Sen. Thompson will participate in the Republican Presidential debate to take place at Morgan State University on September 27.
You willingness to post about it says otherwise.
No one likes an open-border, pro-amnesty, pro-McCain RINO who hides behind “Federalism” or Hannity’s skirt...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkN2fYnMTBs
One thing FRedster “has to realize”:
His ‘aspirations’ to be president....”THAT’S NOT GONNA HAPPEN”, even if “it’s not easy”.
The guy’s a moron with HUGE EGO. WHO CARES when he announces?? These are not the traits of a leader - they’re the traits of a man with a HUGE EGO. Enough already!
How can something that will not happen for another week qualify for Breaking News?
Lexi3130 wrote: “Is the golf cart not working?”
Which golf cart would that be?
“Romney chats amiably with the people in line and then leaves in a golf cart to go to his next event.”
http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272615480.shtml
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