According to The Politico websites, Fred Thompson’s “lackluster” fundraising in June - “only” $3 million - has even some supporters concerned he is flaming out early.
Fred Thompson plans to announce Tuesday that his committee to test the waters for a Republican presidential campaign raised slightly more than $3 million in June, substantially less than some backers had hoped, according to Republican sources.
The article notes that the early rush of support for Thompson as the anti-Hillary may have been, well, early:
But many Republicans have turned queasy as Thompson has ousted part of his original brain trust and repeatedly delayed his official announcement, which is now planned for shortly after Labor Day, in the first two weeks of September.
Some are already saying a prospective Thompson run is a flop. “I just don’t see it anymore,” said a key Republican who had been extremely enthusiastic about a Thompson candidacy.
“That number is really underwhelming. There were indications it could be double that. They’ve been saying that people were waiting for Fred, and the money was going to pour in. He looks like he’s already losing momentum.”
His advisors’ spin seems to be that it was actually a short fundraising month (26 days) and that, hey, he isn’t even a candidate yet.
“It’s not going to be a huge number for a presidential campaign. It’s a testing-the-waters-type number. The number will reflect that goal. He hasn’t been campaigning. He’s been talking to people about whether that figure is the direction he definitely wants to go.”
Meanwhile, Branch, er, Thompson, forges ahead, holding a $1,000 per person fund raiser in Washington tonight.
I don’t really know whose spin is more accurate here. Perhaps Benzion could lend his particularly relevant expertise to the equation.
But it is clear that there are those who want Fred Thompson to look like a has been before he even becomes a could be.
Is it time Fred announced himself, once and for all, in or out?
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16 Responses to “Is Fred Thompson’s star (already) falling?”Search
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Thomson is number 3 without lifting much of a finger….. My take is, a lot of the party who have already picked their candidates are afraid of him…. pox on them.
He is just a retread of the same old stuff. These clowns are a dime a dozen. We need a new fresh face to lead the party. Fred is like old NFL and NBA coaches going from team to team. Retreads.
I understand why Fred hasn’t announced yet, since he probably wasn’t seriously considering a run until relatively recently and needs to get an organization around him. However, many people are losing patience and want him to make it official. It’s obviously hurting him.
However, it’s wildly premature to call his campaign DOA.
pffft! Let’s just wait and see how much money he raises if and when he announces. Besides, who was it that said, (paraphrasing) If a Presidental candidate needs 1 billion dollars to run a Presidential Campaign, then…..
Besides that, I think he could finance his own campaign.
Reports of Fred’s demise are entirely premature.
Fred never flames out early.
Jeri
BTW, I tried to tell you guys.
Rudy.
Mike.
‘08
Maybe someone went back and looked at how Fred did against Democrats such as John (House bank scandle)Glenn during impeachment. I remember seeing him get rolled over by the Dem’s on the committee and being very ashamed. I would not want to have to vote to reward that dismal performance.
Look at the governor of the other state that got wiped out by Katrina if you want to see a conservative with a track record for delivering good for people that are in a hurt.
Why do we only get to choose a President from a bunch of politicians? Where are all the business leaders? The President should be CEO material not scum suckers.
gregg, I agree much with your #2. That said, I don’t think that the current crop of R candidates are all that bad. In fact, I think they are pretty good (except for one popular one).
It’s probably just me, but I don’t want someone to be president that hasn’t been a governor. Or a mayor even. The last thing I think we need is a former Senator. A private sector person is a close second.
But hey, I’m a lib, so who cares?
This whole thing of the media trying to attack Fred is hilarious
First they go after his wife
Then some obscure case he worked on 15 years ago
Then the fact that without a campaign or fundraisers he raises a paltry 3 million dollars (ins’t it grand that 3 million is cause for concern?)
And he still hasen’t decided to run yet and this attack circus could well be the reason why
Run Fred Run
The answer is…… 42
I don’t know anyone who picks their candidate based on how much money they’ve raised. Look at Howard Dean. The only thing political fundraising and the spending of that money tells me is whether the candidate is going to spend MY money like a drunken sailor when he gets in the White House. Also, I have no problem giving money to politicians but I prefer to wait until after they’ve formerly declared their candidacy. Perhaps, I’m not the only one.
The lib hit pieces continue, indicating how worried they are about a Thompson candidacy. They are so transparent.
I love this stuff. Mr. Thompson has only formed an exploratory committee and he has already managed to get in everyone’s hair for one thing or another. He’s got to be laughing at all the free publicity.
“He’s more conservative than the others! He’s a fake conservative! He’s raised a bunch of money! He hasn’t raised enough money! He’s a fake conservative! He’s the Republican Savior! He’s giving everyone “Thompson Fatigue!” He’s a fake conservative! He’s………….”
Take a deep breath folks. The election is not happening this November, and Mr. Thompson will show us what he is about in due course.
Sometimes I wonder if the perpetual campaigning pioneered by the Clintons was a ploy designed to force exactly this kind of political fatigue. Easier to divide and conquer the voting public when they’re “tuned out” due to constant coverage.
15
Let’s hope it backfires into Hillary fatigue.