The American Spectator

Jonathan Martin puts his finger on one of the expectations hurdles for Thompson: that he will speak and sound more dynamic than he really does. His opponents may grouse that TNT will still be showing "Law and Order" reruns but maybe this is a bad thing for Thompson. TV characters (unless you were on the verbose "West Wing") speak in clipped, pithy sentences and are blemish free with just the right amount of tan. Unless you are Mitt Romney who looks like he just stepped off a movie set playing a presidential candidate ( I jest but looking presidential counts a whole lot), most TV people sound and look a bit more rumpled in real life. This may be more of a challenge for Thompson who hasn't held office in a few years and was not on the lecture and talk show circuit. He doesn't sound as engaged and focused as his opponents and it tends to lower the energy level. In an interview setting he looks a bit bored. By contrast, McCain is usually very "up" --sometimes too "hot" in a debate but never bored or boring. Rudy--if you view the town halls or his recent Charlie Rose interview -- is remarkably relaxed and conversationally fluent. (Perhaps this is a function of his practice as Mayor with constant press conferences and community town halls.) Everyone has their own style and it's a danger to mimic others or reinvent yourself but you have to find some happy medium between lethargic and frenetic.