John Podhoretz argues that a Fred Thompson candidate would add strength to the GOP field. Thompson is both an accomplished politician and an accomplished actor, but he’s going to have trouble getting organization going this “late” into an election cycle that’s already started in earnest.
My guess is that Thompson is situating himself for a VP nomination in the future. For instance, someone like Thompson, who has some solid conservative credentials could easily benefit a Northeastern Republican like Giuliani or Romney. Thompson would add instant gravitas to a ticket, he’s from a key region, and he could provide a major electoral boost to a candidate. If one were to compile a short-list of strong GOP VP candidates, his name would be at the top of that list.
Thompson is more than an actor, he’s an accomplished public servant and lawyer. What he would bring to the race would be more than just star power, which is why there’s such interest in his candidacy. Even if he chooses not to run, don’t count him out — chances are he could end up being the star of the second act…
Ah, yes. The party that wins elections in Middle America by running against those filth peddlers in Hollywood is once again skateboarding through Tinseltown. Ronald Reagan….Arnold Schwarzenegger….Sonny Bono….and now, Fred Thompson of TV’s “Law and Order”. And the GOP is constantly in talks trying to recruit Hollywood righties Dennis Miller, Bo Derek, and Kelsey Grammer to run for elected office as well. Given the GOP’s obviously insatiable appetite for all things celebrity, I have a recommendation….Britney Spears. As recently as 2003, she was a George Bush cheerleader. And even today, she’s closer to the threshold of sanity than the average Republican politician.
If nothing else, with Britney Spears in the mix, the Republicans would have one candidate with less hair than Fred Thompson.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000457