How Thompson Hurt His Own Prospects -- and Helped Romney's

Real Clear Politics ^ | September 04, 2007 | Stuart Rothenberg

[AmericanMade1776]

After former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson acknowledged in mid-March that he was considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination, supporters of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were quietly acknowledging the obvious: Their candidate was political roadkill if Thompson entered the contest anytime soon.

But things look very different now. Thompson's decision to delay his entry into the contest until this week not only damaged his own prospects but, more importantly, breathed life into a Romney candidacy that easily could have been snuffed out before it had begun.

Initially, coming from the right side of the ideological spectrum, Thompson appeared to fill the vacuum created when Virginia Sen. George Allen was eliminated as a credible presidential candidate. Even more important, the attorney-turned-actor-turned-Senator- turned-actor seemed to appeal to conservatives looking for "another Ronald Reagan."

[gogeo]

I tend to be skeptical of anything Rothenberg produces.

[EternalVigilance]

JFK waited until January 1960 to announce. The only ones saying September is too late for Fred are the ones who are afraid he will.

Right. Of course, back then, they didn't have filing deadlines to get on the ballot starting on September 2 of the previous year.

[VideoDoctor]

Thompson's decision to delay his entry into the contest until this week not only damaged his own prospects but, more importantly, breathed life into a Romney candidacy

Pure verbal "kool-aid".

[donnab]

no...but however he knows that todays campaigns are ridiculously long. And quite frankly I agree. I am sick of all the blather between candidates already and how much longer do we have to go yet?

[AmericanMade1776]

jackieaxe wrote: Now he’s skipping out on a debate this week to announce his candidacy on Jay Leno. Why does this Hollywood has-been think he’s better than the other candidates?

Meanwhile prospective Republican Delegates will be watching the Republican debate, and not Jay Leno. Whose base is Thompson trying to reach? Thompson better start playing to the Republican party.

[kevkrom]

Yea, Thompson really killed his chances with this strategy.. What was he polling at again? Oh yea, way way down at the bottom at #2, right under Rudy..

And Romney, after a brief "blip" from the Iowa joke, has settled back down to within MOE of McCain again.

[donnab]

I wont be watching the debate..there just so much politico speak I can stomache.

[AmericanMade1776]

NavyCanDo wrote: JFK waited until January 1960 to announce. The only ones saying September is too late for Fred are the ones who are afraid he will.

JFK , was thirty years younger than Fred Thompson, and was backed by his families Booze fortune, and a Democrat.

[mnehring]

Meanwhile prospective Republican Delegates will be watching the Republican debate, and not Jay Leno. Whose base is Thompson trying to reach? Thompson better start playing to the Republican party.

I guess you haven't realized that the two items are on at completely different times?
Have you considered which format allows for more airtime and has higher ratings?

[sam_paine]

I think Kerry and Gore had pretty big organizations, too, didn’t they?

[AmericanMade1776]

donnab wrote: I wont be watching the debate..there just so much politico speak I can stomache.

The debates, both Democrat and Republican , show us how the candidates think on their feet, how they feel about issues, and show how they carry themselves. I watch all debates, and all conventions, therefore I have an informed opinion.

[tioga]

-they probably don’t rival hillary’s.

[AmericanMade1776]

mnehrling wrote:Have you considered which format allows for more airtime and has higher ratings?

EGADS! ....higher ratings, what are we now waiting for Sweep week for Fred to announce his Presidency...rolls eyes.

[kevkrom]

The debates, both Democrat and Republican , show us how the candidates think on their feet, how they feel about issues, and show how they carry themselves. I watch all debates, and all conventions, therefore I have an informed opinion.

Do you think seven debates is enough to show that? Because that's how many are already scheduled beyond the September 5 debate.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

At this point I will vote for Fred in the general election if he wins the primary. But I won't if he chooses Romney as a running mate.

I think Thompson did minor harm to himself by waiting so long. It can easily be overcome once he is in the race because the rest of the top contenders are weak. If anyone benefited from the delay it was one of the candidates other than Rudy McRomany. The fact that a non-candidate could compete at all was an insult to Rudy McRomney. The other candidates have been given extra time to introduce themselves. They are the ones who benefited from the delay.

[pissant]

Hunter is going to win. The RINOS can fight it out to see who he picks to be his secretary of the interior decorating.

[papasmurf]

FRed should make a video to address this non issue of getting in too late.

Something like...

...”Everyone who knows me, knows my history, will tell you, if anything, that I’m a very fair minded fella.
So, in the spirit of fairness, I held back a few weeks to allow my good friends who were already candidates, to get a “leg up”.

Hope y’all got your footing real good, now” LOL

[MeanWestTexan]

Come on, don’t you want a guy (Romney) who is so impassioned about his support FOR abortion and FOR gay boy scoutmasters taking little boys camping:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IJUkYUbvI

[dusttoyou]

Until the GOP debates thin out the participant “wheat from the chafe”, they are not much on substance and not worthy of spending much time watching.

Yeah, yeah, Duncan and a couple of others are OK maybe for VP material or cabinet spots, but Cox, McInsane, Hugo Paul etc really have ZERO chance, and unless any have a snowballs chance they need to get off the stage and go to work rebuilding the GOP.

[Badeye]

Romney has run a very good campaign so far...and its too early to tell if Fred Thompson’s bucking the new system will pay off, or cause him to implode politically.