Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson is by
all accounts doing extremely well in yet another phase of his
career: a regular TV gig on Law and Order, and an ABC
radio gig subbing for Paul Harvey.
Thompson chose not to seek a third term in the Senate back in
2002, but his combination of star power, common-sense approach to
policy and issues, and gravitas has placed him — along with
Jeb Bush — on a conservative wish list for those
not happy with the current crop of Republican presidential
candidates in 2008.
Now there is this little item that popped up in the latest edition of
U.S. News.
On the eve of the opening of the Conservative Political Action
Conference in Washington, D.C., it seemed timely. More interesting
has been the quick pushback from both the McCain and Romney camps
about talk of Thompson perhaps dipping his toe in the presidential
campaign pool.
“He’s not going to do it, we’ve been assured of that,” says one
John McCain adviser in Washington. “Senator McCain
thinks the world of Fred Thompson. They are friends. They’ve
talked.” But Thompson has not endorsed McCain.
A Mitt Romney adviser says: “We’ve heard that
he isn’t interested, but even if he was it wouldn’t matter; we’re
focused on Governor Romney’s campaign and getting his message to as
many Americans as possible.”
According to sources familiar with Thompson’s thinking, he is
not at this moment looking to enter the race. And while there is
talk in the media of a “Draft Fred” movement afoot, Thompson seems
to be focused on a bigger picture right now.
“Sure, he’s hearing the talk about unhappiness with the current
field of candidates,” says a Thompson supporter, “but he’s just as
concerned about how the Republican Party got to this point, and
where conservatives can take the party moving forward. He sees a
dearth of up and comers out in the statehouses, and he sees a
dearth of ideas. If nothing else, I think he wants to get
conservatives and the GOP back on track.”
It isn’t just politicals who are talking up Thompson. According
to RNC fundraisers we’ve spoken with over the past couple of
months, Thompson is someone mentioned as a prospective candidate by
some West Coast and Southern party money men who would like to see
him enter the race.
“He’s a bankable name on a couple of different levels. Donors
love to have him at fundraisers,” says one Chicago-based RNC
donor.
But Thompson isn’t entirely beloved by all. Take this post (par. 7) from the Huffington Post.
Never mind that it’s wrong: Thompson in fact was a successful
prosecutor as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and his work during
Watergate and the Clinton impeachment was highly regarded, but
Thompson clearly represents the kind of candidate that threatens
the left: likable, solidly conservative, and perhaps most
important, electable.
“Senator Thompson is one of those guys, who when you hear him
speak, you ask, ‘Why isn’t he running for something?’” says another
supporter. “You just can’t help it. We need him out there, if not
running, then at least helping.”
