Fred Thompson Will Air A Television Ad During The Fox News Debate

From the campaign:

McLEAN, VA - Friends of Fred Thompson Committee today announces that it plans to air a 30-second television commercial entitled "Debate" tomorrow night on the Fox News Channel. Additionally, the committee will be airing a modified version of the ad, entitled "I'm In," on Thursday, September 6th.

"One of this campaign's greatest strengths is Fred's ability to connect on a one on one basis with voters. By driving viewers to our website to hear his webcast announcement and learn more about Fred, these ads play to that strength and help to build our network in advance of his first trips to the early primary states as a candidate," stated campaign manager Bill Lacy

Comments

I cannot believe Thompson will end up any differently than Clark did in 2004. The resemblances are so striking: Thompson and Clark's supporters both believe/believed that the field was weak and that voters were not satisfied with their options. They both came in after months of speculation, and questinioning as to why they weren't already in the race. Both announced in the fall. Clark did not have time to get his campaign anywhere, and the Democrats were happier with their options than he had anticipated. Why would it be any different for Thompson?
More analysis at Campaign Diaries.

Posted by Daniel | September 4, 2007 5:01 PM

What a coward.

Posted by Jake | September 4, 2007 6:24 PM

Fred is such a wimp. I have a feeling he is going to end up being a terrible debater and is scared to go up against Romney and Rudy. To purposely avoid a debate is bad enough, but to then buy a scripted commercial during the debate is the most spineless thing I've ever seen. Fred, you are becoming pathetic!
D

Posted by Deaconblue | September 4, 2007 9:39 PM

BREAKING NEWS..

Thomson to present his Trophy Wife to the nation in his first TV ad in an attemt dispel the notion that he is a wimp and coward.

Posted by timmy | September 4, 2007 10:35 PM

He is going to announce in the ad his ticket:

Thomson - Larry Craig 2008.

Posted by tm | September 4, 2007 10:41 PM

Maybe Fred will request a special debate with just him in it to because his ideas are too smart to be said on a shared stage? :)

Posted by Peter | September 4, 2007 11:54 PM

Actually, airing an ad during the debate is a brilliant strategy, IMO. He will be in the debate later this month, and will surely do quite well. Just wait. He will, if given the opportunity, discuss things the others are afraid to address. They'd prefer to just stick to their scripts.

Posted by LDinNevada | September 5, 2007 1:07 AM

Stick to their scripts LDinNevada? The only man with a script on Wednesday night is the guy in the commercial. Come on. Even the Thompson supporters can see that Fred is beginning to look down right frightened to go up against....other Republicans. What's he going to do when he has to debate Hillary? Agree with her? And if he's president, will he just reschedule all those meetings with France, Egypt, North Korea and the Group of 7 until he feels more comfortable declaring his position on internation trade, monetary policy and terrorism? Fred is dead before he even announces.

Posted by Dave | September 5, 2007 1:37 AM

There is only one candidate driving a wedge in the GOP and that is Fred Thompson. The audacity of the man to skip the debate and buy ad time.

That is an affront to every candidate out there who have been working for months to get votes. Old Man Fred comes along and snubs his nose at all of them.

Wonder what his excuse will be about the next debate? I have said all along by the time he comprehends the question he would be asked, his time will be up.

Comparing Old Man Fred to Wesley Clark is an apt description and wonder how many of the same people are supporting Thompson that supported Clark.

Voters don't like candidates who think they can get in late and run off with the nomination. If they are too lazy to go through a full primary campaign, they will be too lazy to run a general election.

Don't know about any of you, but I don't want Mary Matlin and her bunch or Bob Dole's people near any GOP campaign. Whoever advised Old Man Fred to buy an ad during the debate, doesn't have a clue about most voters and their reaction.

I knew my home state was disgusted but have been in Chicago this week, and the comments are the same. Republicans are disgusted with this type of tactic and some are very vocal. Two men were talking behind us on the Train on the way to the Cubs game and both were thoroughly disgusted with Old Man Fred and his arrogance. One of them said they are disgusted with the comparison to Pres Reagan but Reagan was a 2-term Governor of CA while Fred was a lazy Senator.

Posted by Samantha | September 5, 2007 2:20 AM

Why does everyone insist that it's too late for Fred to enter? "Jon Cary" didn't enter until Septemer 3rd. What say you?

Posted by Sherri | September 5, 2007 2:30 PM

Sherri -- I totally agree. Why in the world did this campaign begin within hours after the last election? So, Fred began to just "think about entering" this race in March, after he realized that the current slate of candidates just didn't satisfy the true conservatives' desire for a viable option. He soon recognized there was a real groundswell of encouragement to get into it and formed his "testing the waters" effort in June. His seeking the Republican nomination has not been a life-long ambition and appears to be driven more by his desire to address the challenges we all, as Americans, have before us. The campaign for POTUS should not be only about someone's desire for the POWER associated with the presidency -- it must be about leading the country to a better future. Security, Unity, Prosperity. We need Fred.

Posted by LDinNevada | September 5, 2007 3:19 PM