Presidential Ponderings
I have not been shy about stearing clear of supporting any one candidate yet. I personally think it is way too early to make a decision - there is too much unknown about all of the announced candidates. I will say that I have already ruled out a couple - Ron Paul, Tommy Thompson and John McCain but I can honestly say I can see reasons for supporting Rudy Guiliani or Mitt Romney although they both have their downsides as well.
However, I am very intrigued with one unannounced candidate - former Senator Fred Thompson. Whether he has been writing on taxes or immigration or gun control or speaking on free speech or about foreign affairs, Senator Thompson has raised issues that seem to be resonating with the conservative base of the Republican Party.
All of that has lead people to wonder...when is he going to announce. Others are saying he needs to get in or stay out. Others still say the campaign has already begun.
"Having watched the second Republican debate the other night, it's clear to me the subject today is Fred Thompson, the man who wasn't there. While the other candidates bang away earnestly in a frozen format, Thompson continues to sneak up from the creek and steal their underwear--boxers, briefs and temple garments.
He is running a great campaign. It's just not a declared campaign."
Ms. Noonan is absolutely correct - this is a concerted campaign. Senator Thompson has been doing a lot to get his name and his stances out in front of the people who are going to vote in the Primaries next year. It's all well and good to get out in press via debates and the like, but ABC, NBC and CBS do not vote in the Republican Primaries. The readers of PowerLine and Captains Quarters and NRO and Townhall do. These are the people that the Republican Party needs to reach out to in a big way. Obviously some candidates get it. Many candidates including Governor Romney and Mayor Guiliani have set up discussion groups over at Powerline's forum (currently down due to a server crash) but Senator Thompson has made a concerted effort to get to as many of these forums as possible. You have to give him credit for that.
However, I am very intrigued with one unannounced candidate - former Senator Fred Thompson. Whether he has been writing on taxes or immigration or gun control or speaking on free speech or about foreign affairs, Senator Thompson has raised issues that seem to be resonating with the conservative base of the Republican Party.
All of that has lead people to wonder...when is he going to announce. Others are saying he needs to get in or stay out. Others still say the campaign has already begun.
"Having watched the second Republican debate the other night, it's clear to me the subject today is Fred Thompson, the man who wasn't there. While the other candidates bang away earnestly in a frozen format, Thompson continues to sneak up from the creek and steal their underwear--boxers, briefs and temple garments.
He is running a great campaign. It's just not a declared campaign."
Ms. Noonan is absolutely correct - this is a concerted campaign. Senator Thompson has been doing a lot to get his name and his stances out in front of the people who are going to vote in the Primaries next year. It's all well and good to get out in press via debates and the like, but ABC, NBC and CBS do not vote in the Republican Primaries. The readers of PowerLine and Captains Quarters and NRO and Townhall do. These are the people that the Republican Party needs to reach out to in a big way. Obviously some candidates get it. Many candidates including Governor Romney and Mayor Guiliani have set up discussion groups over at Powerline's forum (currently down due to a server crash) but Senator Thompson has made a concerted effort to get to as many of these forums as possible. You have to give him credit for that.
Labels: 2008, Fred Thompson
posted by The Lady Logician at
4:17 PM
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