“A better way to put it then, is that “Fred shut out the MSM for so long they forgot about him.””
That’s how it looks. I wonder if the writers strike played a part in this as well. Fred had a pretty good chance of being on Leno again, and IMO that would have really helped him get some traction. You know softened his delivery up in a casual setting. I’ve seen Fred do those late night talk show things and be really good, but none of that comes across in his straight on campaign spots.
Actually, I think "L&O" has hurt Fred, because a lot of people want him to be THAT guy (who appears to have more drive and energy than the real Fred), and he isn't. He's much lower-key than "Arthur Branch, DA."