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This and this don't sound so hot for the Fred folks. The one number that sticks out is 200 --the crowd for the first event. It's not Brownback size but it's not so big, especially for the opening day. I think Wlady gets the prize for cautioning me not to suggest that Fred do a live start in a throng of supporters because they might have a tough time turning out the throng. More later as reports come in.

UPDATE: A more positive account. And a neutral one indicating he focused on terrorism and immigration but left out the entitlement theme today and maybe shouldn't joke about getting by with just a film debut. And one more-- commenting on the smooth delivery but so-so crowd. But the one that counts from the dean of the Iowa press corps David Yepsen( H/T Marc Ambinder) :

"It wasn't very impressive.The crowd of a few hundred didn't seem enthused. Thompson's oratory didn't soar but was somewhat rambling. . .[A]s the Thompson campaign winds it's way across Iowa for the next two days, the actor might want to work on his lines. Punch up the message. Lose the note cards. Pump up the volume. Give us a little stump oratory. And how about a specific policy initiative or two? Otherwise, Republican activists won't be impressed. They'll be disappointed. Thompson won't live up to their expectation that he could be their savior. They'll start drifting to other candidates."

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