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How long can a "non-campaign" campaign continue, if not played right, before it too gets as tiring (as a fair number of non political folks feel) as the incessant early primary jockeying of the presidential wannabees officially in the race? How much of this the stuff, like the following passage from a post at PajamasMedia, can fly before it becomes as annoying as Hillary’s screaching or Edwards’ hyprocritical global warming preaching?
Blogs for Fred and Red State were saying he’ll announce at 4:30Pm Eastern today, but Jim Geraghty just confirmed with Team Thompson that at 4:30 today he will announce that there will be an announcement coming on the second half of next week.
Upon further nosing around, it has been rumored he really just leaked that they were thinking about announcing tomorrow that in the next few days, they’ll hint at leaking some info about a possible announcement to distrubute a video that might coyly hint about a leaked announcement that Fred Thompson is seriously contemplating putting some thought into running for president.
Stop the Presses!
Now really. The better way to run a "non campaign" campaign is the way that Newt Gingrich and Al Gore are doing it. Either one could jump in and be an immediate contender, and they haven’t played the somewhat agitating game of "footsie" in the same way Fred has. And don’t forget, at least when Newt Gingrich speaks or particpates at venues where people are scrutinizing him from the presidential point of view, he doesn’t leave anyone feeling let down or flat. Near as I can recall, whenever Fred has made some rare public appearance, he’s left them less than wowed. He’s got big shoes to fill.
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The question for me, beyond the sillyness of "will he or won’t he," is whether Fred can match the image and hype that has been created. While some might be tired of hearing from those already long in the hunt, the current crop of official candidates are, if nothing else, battle tested. Will the "noob" Fred Thompson measure up to the task? Maybe he will. He does enjoy broad support in some sectors of the conservative and more independent Blogosphere. Stay tuned…
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[Even our friend DCE, an early chronicler (supporter?) of the Fred "campaign" at the WeekendPundit sounds a tad annoyed.]