Some Good Advice for Thompson
Posted by The Asian Badger on September 6, 2007
The Wall Street Journal had some excellent advice for newly-declared Presidential candidate, Fred Thompson. As a “Fredhead”, I agree and I hope he responds as the WSJ implores.
[...]“The rationale for a Thompson candidacy may still be a work in progress, but that doesn’t mean his entry won’t have some immediate impact. There’s a reason Mr. Giuliani has welcomed him to the race with open arms, while Mr. Romney nervously joked with reporters that it would be better if Mr. Thompson waited a few more months to declare. Mr. Thompson probably steals more of Mr. Romney’s thunder initially, if only because the former’s movie and television roles have made him more recognizable. Unlike Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney is still introducing himself to voters. A recent CBS News poll found that two-thirds of GOP primary voters had yet to form an opinion of the former Massachusetts governor. Mr. Thompson’s presence will make it that much harder for Mr. Romney to distinguish himself.
As the new kid on the campaign trail, press coverage of the Thompson candidacy will be voluminous. But media interest won’t last any longer than voter interest if Mr. Thompson doesn’t use it to put forward some intriguing ideas, and then show that he can defend them with conviction. Mr. Thompson will also have to demonstrate in short order that his fund-raising abilities can compete with Mr. Giuliani’s extensive network and Mr. Romney’s deep pockets.
With the public in a sour mood, Republicans aren’t likely to win unless they make the 2008 election about big themes and issues. They need a reform agenda, and if Fred Thompson doesn’t stand for something beyond his persona as a television DA and pickup truck populist, he’s not likely to go the distance.”
Posted in Thompson in 2008 | 3 Comments »
