“Frankly, given Thompson’s lackluster entry and low resources,”
If early resources were the be all and end all, Phil Graham would be president. Self funded politicians also tend to overreach, I’ve seen it multiple times in local elections and it has happened at higher levels. People don’t like people who try and buy an election. That’s one reason Hillary has a hard row to hoe in the general.
~”People don’t like people who try and buy an election.”~
I suspect you’re right, which makes Romney’s self-funding very risky.
~”That’s one reason Hillary has a hard row to hoe in the general.”~
How do you mean? She isn’t self-funding to a significant degree. (I don’t think she would if she could.)
People liked Jack Kennedy, but then he was young, handsome, witty and a bit dangerous, somewhat of a hero and with a knock out wife.
Anyway, on topic. People who buy in are in general thin. They don't have widespread support. There is little word of mouth endorsement. Buying in seems fake, plastic, thin gruel, managed, packaged, slick. That is Mitts problem. He is working off of his business success. I think he knows this. That he loses with exposure, hence his strategic campaign to win early and suffocate candidates and present to Republicans a fait accomplie.