The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> CAMPAIGN BUDDIES br> No sooner does Tennessee GOP leaders complain about outgoing U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson 's lack of support for the Republican who would replace him, Lamar Alexander , than Thompson steps up and cuts a TV commercial for him. /p>

The 30-second spot has Thompson recalling how as a young prosecutor in 1979 he was asked by then-Gov. Alexander to help "clean up corruption" and appointed by him to investigate the clemency-for-cash deals cut by a previous gubernatorial administration. "We need Lamar's experience and integrity in Washington -- to represent our values and support President Bush," says Thompson, essentially endorsing Alexander.

"There aren't any plans for him to campaign with Alexander," says a Thompson staffer, who adds that Alexander hasn't asked, either.

Rep. Ed Bryant, whom Alexander defeated in the Republican primary, will campaign with the nominee over the next couple of weeks. Bryant's support is seen as more important in some ways than Thompson's, because of Bryant's credentials as a true conservative. Alexander has been portrayed as more of a moderate, and has spent the past several weeks reaching out to constituencies more natural to Bryant.

p> ON THE OREGON TRAIL br> President Bush hits the West Coast on Thursday, seeking to raise more than $250,000 for Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith

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