Thompson Campaign Financial Records Released

Though Fred Thompson dropped out of the presidential race on January 22 after a disappointing third finish in South Carolina, his campaign reports, which were released last week, indicate that money was not an issue. Thompson raised a total of $23.6 million over the entire duration of his campaign and spend $21.9 million of it. The bigger surprise involved the last week of his campaign - during his frenzied bus tour before the South Carolina Primary, Thompson raised over $2 million. His campaign managed to spend around $300,000 in the final week on various advertisements, but when the campaign finally ended, Thompson had $1.7 million left and just under $400,000 in unpaid expenses. It's unclear what will happen with the $1.3 million that remain.

The Legacy of Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson not only left us with classic Law and Order episodes and the heart warming HBO movie "Bury My Heart In Woonded Knee," or his endorsement to McCain, but he gave us more than that. He taught the nation that in order to win the presidential nomination one must have a good public image. Unofrtunately Thompson was not able to transmit energy and excitement to many of the people who early on thought he was going to do well. Let us recall the buzz about Thompson when he was barely announcing that he was going to enter the race, there was excitement and hope althought he had entered later than the others. From there it was a sudden decline, almost instantly the public was able to detect that Thompson had no flare or passion, in fact, in many interviews when this was brought up he tried to demonstrate a little flare. Perhaps the most essential thing that was learned from Fred Thompson's campaign was that presidential image is crucial, as well as public image and the manner in which one approaches the campaign. Thompson comapred to Obama of Clinton is extremely dry, even compared to McCAin Thompson seems dry. We will probably not even remember Thompson attmept at the white house because there really isn't much to remember, except that it was a forgettable campaign. Unfortunately this is Thompson's legacy, to teach us that public image is essential to americans and that the candidates should not solely depend on their experience or consistency on issues, but on the way the media portrays them as well.

The Love Boat

This past Friday, Fred Thompson, former presidential primary candidate, endorsed current GOP victor, John McCain. Thompson's support came as an after-thought to the McCain campaign but as the GOP gets prepared for the General Election, its important to get as many states behind the GOP ticket. Thompson's endorsement served as transfer of Tennessee GOP voters. As the Democrats still battle it out, Republicans gain the advantage of putting the primary behind them as they advance towards the next step; the General Election. The question is why did Thompson endorse McCain? While McCain has proven his lead, Huckabee is still fighting, hence why not support Huckabee. The Washington Post, quotes Thompson - "close ranks". Also, McCain has proven himself the GOP victor, therefore Thompson has no reason to put himself between his supporters and the GOP general election candidate. Fall 2008, the GOP love boat will go head to head with the democratic nominated candidate.

'What and Quit Showbizz?'

Without Thompson, Tennessee seems pretty split between the major GOP candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney. Whereas Democratic candidate, Clinton, has already rallied an incredible support base in the state through endorsements of almost all major Democratic representatives and Obama....well not so much. For the Republicans, the winner for the GOP in Tennessee is entirely dependent on who Fred Thompson endorses. This past Saturday Thompson was expected to endorse McCain but didn’t. Thompson might be pulling an Edwards and hope that his state’s issues will be addressed by putting his endorsement on a pedestal but Thompson doesn’t really have a minority to defend or some idyllic principle to uphold. Thompson will, however, still appear on the Tennessee ballot, and it is expected that he will still garner some votes, which could otherwise be used for a legitimate candidate. Its doubtful, this close to Super Tuesday, that he will endorse a candidate. One can only wonder at Thompson's hesitation.