Okay, so now it’s on the 6th. And he’s doing it via webcam. TechRepublican’s Allen Fuller is a little chary:
Fred Thompson will launch a legitimate campaign for President via webcast. That’s just unreal. Sure, Hillary and Edwards and all them did it months ago, but that was months ago when there was no pressure and relatively little media attention. I’m as much of a new media guy as anyone, and I applaud them for going for it, but this is risky at best. Friends of Fred Thompson will not get nearly the attention from the mainstream media as a big event on the square in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. would.
Patrick Ruffini, on the other hand, likes the idea. But in his analysis the whole thing seems like yet another example of the Thompson campaign’s blown timing. Thompson has lost the element of surprise and all the buzz that would go with it — especially critical when one is using new media to launch an effort:
Simply put, the time for Fred to do a video announcement is not now, but in early June when there was rampant speculation over whether he would run. (Remember, this was when people thought he was a stalking horse for McCain!) And he didn’t even need to “announce.” He could have simply unveiled his site and invited people to join his “testing the waters” committee — similar to how Obama announced an “exploratory” effort on January 15th. Then he could have done a traditional announcement later.
Thompson’s people seem to have some interesting political technology ideas — at least for Republicans. But the larger story is still their inability to stop stumbling.
52 Responses to “The Ever-Evolving FDT Announcement”
he has delayed as long as he can and will avoid as many debates as he can because he doesnt want everyone to see just how inferior to rudolph giuliani he is. thompson will be in, and flame out within 4-6 weeks, by october 15 rudy will have won another quarter in fundraising, thompson would have fallen far short of expectations, romney will again have gone into his own pockets to keep his money respectable, huckabee will do the best he has ever done (eclipsing 400k is still lousey though), and mccains free fall will be nearly complete. america’s mayor is all the more closer to his eventual nomination, and we all know a pretend us attorney has not shot at out-debating a real life brooklyn born us attorney. shows over freddy.
Something to say?
Very good analysis. Getting in the day after the NH debate shows that he is afraid to be seen on stage with other candidates because frankly after two blown speeches, doubt if he could handle a debate.
Fred looks old and ill and has trouble comprehending questions. Not something you would want to have for someone debating. Not to mention he has trouble standing for very long.
Republicans who think he is conservative, have to be the most easily led people anyone knows.
Left by Gator Country
September 2, 2007 at 4:46pm