GraniteGrok: NH Republican Party Chair not pleased with Fred Thompson.

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NH GOP Chair Fergus Cullen (GG file photo) Fred Thompson

Following up on yesterday's post about Fred Thompson's long, almost tiring flirtation with a run for the Republican nomination, it appears that he is finally ready to announce his official start next Thursday-- a day AFTER the next NH GOP Presidential debate Wednesday night. This has left more than one pundit and observer scratching their heads. Why not get in and start having a debate with his opponents a day earlier? Is he afraid of something? And what does this say about his attitude towards the Granite State's primary? It's no secret Fred has spent little to no money here, and put no campaign efforts into play to speak of, either.

This hasn't set too well with NH's Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen. In an interview with frequent MTNP radio show guest Jen Rubin posted at the American Spectator's AmSpecBlog, Cullen, apparently rather worked up over the whole chain of events, said

We try to communicate and we certainly told them of the debate. If I sound frustrated I am." He repeated that if Thompson changed his mind and became an official candidate before the debate the GOP would accommodate him. Cullen stated, "I do hope they reconsider." He continued that it appeared that Thompson "deliberately" timed his entry "to avoid participating in this event."

I think Fergus is spot-on about this. Jen further reports

Cullen explained that there is "genuine interest in his campaign but he doesn't seem serious." He then referred to the NH Union Leader article yesterday which he says "summed up" how voters in New Hampshire feel. He ended by saying that Thompson's failure to appear says to voters "we're not ready to talk issues substantively."

This taken on top of reports that Fred's few appearances have left attendees underwhelmed could combine to paint a picture of a candidate whose reality is different from the hype.

Here are a couple questions to ponder:

--Will Fred Thompson run a "non campaign" campaign here in NH? Like those choosing to "skip" the Ames Iowa poll?

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--Are his actions, in general, harming NH's first in the nation primary status?
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--Are we at a point in time yet where a "virtual" campaign can be conducted here in NH, or anywhere else?

NOTE: Jennifer will be with us on MTNP radio today to talk about this...

Comments

Have you seen his two speeches, one to the VFW and one in Indy, that flopped. Fred received more applause before the speeches then he did during or after which speakes volumes. He is a horrible speaker and had to spend hours honing his TN accent since he spent so much time in DC and little time in TN. Even the rented red pickup was a prop. They drove Fred to his pickup in a Lincoln Town Car, he jumped in the red pickup and drove to the event 4-5 blocks away. The actor is all about stage props. You really didn't think he would get in this debate did you? By the time Fred comprehended the question, time would be up. He would also have to be on his feet for more than an hour and he doesn't seem to have the stamina to do that. Most people supporting Fred have not taken a good look at the man or they would have stepped away from Fred some time back. He looks old, has lost a lot weight to where skin is hanging and carried a hot dog around Minnesota like a prop instead of eating it. Don't forget he has so little energy he rode around in a golf cart at the Iowa State Fair. Stiffing NH leaves one to wonder and you come to the conclusion that he is afraid to be on the same stage as other candidates. Announcing the day after the event is a direct slam at NH voter, the people putting on the debate, and the other candidates who have been out there working day in and day out. Reason candidates skipped the straw poll was they were not willing to spend money to buy ballots like Romney and Fair Tax did for Huckabee. Word is that the Romney campaign had $1,000 worth of ballots left they couldn't find supporters for -- how dumb is that? Straw polls are for fundraising for the organization and nothing more. Rudy Giuliani has stated he will not take part in straw polls where you bus in people and buy their ballots like Mitt did. Rudy has beefed up his NH staff and will be spending a lot of time getting to know people all through NH. You are going to be seeing a lot more of Rudy in the months to come.

Posted by: Samantha | September 1, 2007 10:44 AM

We should ask ourselves one question first; * Why are we shouting out from the bottom of depravity and then hypocrisy to offer the sale of our votes to the future President who pours the heaviest rain of silver on our heads to only twist in outrage when he would logically lead us in the direction which offers him the most in return? Let's base our favor on the wise who must be asked to accept a thankless job and whose motivation stems exclusively from our combined sense of survival and pursuit of success which inherently instills mutual loyalty.

Posted by: Winghunter | September 1, 2007 12:15 PM

Unfortunately most, if not all, of the politicians are actors. Their events are scripted carefully to get the most of whatever their point is at that event. That's the bad part of modern politics. As for whether his announcement hurts NH? Not really, there's more of a "threat" from other larger states feeling they want in on the action. Personally, I'm surprised a bunch of states haven't banded together to be the LAST to have a primary, say late may. That way, it forces the candidates to continue to campaign as late as possible. That makes more sense than trying to be first.

Posted by: Paul | September 1, 2007 10:02 PM

So he misses ONE debate on the 5th. Who's carrying the Union-Leader's water now?

Of course, it doesn't matter to you that he's still in the next SEVEN debates (eight if you include the one in Los Angeles on January 30th). It doesn't matter that next Wednesday he'd have to share 20-second sound bites with EIGHT other candidates, only maybe two of which are even serious contenders for the GOP nomination at this point.

There's a darned good reason Thompson waited until September 6th to declare. That's the absolute EARLIEST date he could declare and not have to report his exploratory or other money until the January 31st filing.

Here's how it works: by announcing on September 6th, he then has 15 days to formally declare his candidacy to the FEC. At that point (September 21st) he has 10 more days to officially register his campaign committee with the FEC. And that date is--anyone? anyone?--October 1st. After that date he's not required to file or submit disclosure papers until 1/31/08.

Bottom line--watch Leno on the 5th, the debate on the 6th, wait until a few more second-tier candidates drop out (like Paul, Huckabee, Hunter, Tancredo), and then tune in to the Florida GOP debate on the 17th, the debate in Hanover on the 27th, and if that's not good enough for you, then the one in Manchester on the 14th of October.

Frankly, I would have thought you and the gang would have seen through this. Fergus Cullen needs to go as the state GOP chair. His "leadership" is the reason why we have two Dem representatives, a Dem governor, and a Dem Legislature/Senate for the first time in 95 years. And the way he's going (and being played) this state is going to remain in Democrat hands for a LONG time.

Posted by: Randy | September 2, 2007 11:00 PM

Us, carry the UL's water? Not hardly. Fergus' either. These are just our observations. The many announcements to announce there is no announcement just seem to border on comical. I am a fan of any campaign that deviates from the same old same old. The timing, one day after the NH event, is just not too good, looked at from the NHerite POV. We plan on discovering for ourselves what Fred is all about. Given reports of his underwhelming speeches up to this point, I will be intently watching to see for myself. At the end of it all, I will be supporting the candidate that I believe is best able to beat whichever Democrat wins that party's nomination. Perhaps that will be Fred. If, at the time I believe that to be the case, he will get my support and vote.

Posted by: doug | September 2, 2007 11:52 PM

Posted by: doug | September 2, 2007 11:53 PM

Fair enough, Doug. However, Cullen's and the UL's gnashing of teeth over this without REALLY delving into or explaining WHY Thompson isn't declaring until Thursday is at best laziness, or at worst outright dishonesty.

You can put Fergus in the former category, and as for cynical old me, the UL most easily fits into the latter.

I think I fairly explained why he waited until this point to declare. There are other underlying reasons, I'm sure, but this seems like the most logical reason on its face. And like I also stated, there will be three opportunities (two in NH) for him to explain his programs and policies within the next six weeks. Again, the debate tomorrow is going to be more of the same sound bite construction and isn't really going to tell us anything about the candidates (unless Ron Paul decides to insert foot in mouth again.)

Posted by: Randy | September 3, 2007 11:51 AM

Thanks for the information in your comment, Randy. I really want Fred to match the hype, and then some. I just get kind of touchy about NH and our First in The Nation primary. This is just one of those rare instances that I agree with Cullen.... Not that I've disagreed, mind you-- hard to disagree when there's nothing happening to agree with or not... I've contacted Fred's people, and, hopefully GraniteGrok will be in the media loop that will enable us to study and report back here to the readers.

Posted by: doug | September 3, 2007 7:14 PM

I think we need to let Fred be his own character. I'm tired of all the candidates either comparing themselves or having the pundits tout them as the next Ronaldus Maximus. Frankly, you could resurrect Ronald Reagan and he probably wouldn't live up to the Reagan hype.

Posted by: Randy | September 4, 2007 11:07 AM

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NH Republican Party Chair not pleased with Fred Thompson.

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