A Fred Thompson presidential bid is looking more and more likely, says The Hill, reporting that former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee "is contacting powerbrokers in the Republican Party to build support for a 2008 presidential campaign by his one-time protégé."
Baker, who Wednesday made a visit to the Senate, was asked by several Republicans about his involvement on Thompson’s behalf. "He said, 'I am making a few calls and I think it's a great idea,'" said one Senate Republican who heard Baker discuss his efforts to advance Thompson’s prospects. One Republican who discussed a possible bid with Thompson described his interest and Baker’s queries as "a friendly exploration."
Baker is a close friend and mentor to Thompson. Thompson broke into national politics in a big way in 1973 when Baker named him chief Republican counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee. Thompson’s work helped to uncover the scandal that forced the resignation of President Nixon. Republicans believe Baker is coordinating efforts with Thompson, and view Baker’s emerging role as a sign that Thompson is taking steps toward launching a campaign.
Thompson has told allies in recent days that he is exploring seriously a bid for president in 2008 in response to what he has described as strong encouragement from Republicans dissatisfied with the current slate of candidates.
Thompson said one reason he is hesitant about running is his longtime friendship with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Thompson was one of only four Republican senators to endorse McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign and was an important ally in McCain’s effort to pass campaign-finance reform in 2002.
There clearly is a groundswell of conservative support for Thompson, despite his efforts to aid McCain to pass the horrid McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law. That's one issue Thompson on which Thompson would have to mend fences with conservatives.
Working in Thompson's favor: The bigger and more numbered issues dividing conservatives from GOP front-runners McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.
More "Fred Watch" items from Adam Groves, from Knoxville News Sentinel reporter Michael Silence, and the the skeptical A.C. Kleinheider.
Will Fred run? Unkown. But if he does announce he will instantly be considered one of the front-runners. But can he win the nomination?
The RealClearPolitics Blog puts it well, saying...
Fred Thompson is the only Republican in the country with the stature, name recognition, the ability to raise money, and the conservative bona fides who could step in and fill the current void that exists in the field. The question is whether that void is big enough to make Thompson a top-tier contender and give him a legitimate shot at winning the nomination.
I think so.
Thompson's entry into the race would instantly crumble McCain's already tenuous conservative support, and give conservatives looking for a "strong leader" type of candidate who can win in November an alternative to the not-so-conservative , Giuliani. Thompson also will cut into Romney's support among conservatives given Romney's shifting views on social issues over the years.
And Fred would be a field-clearer to some extent as some of the lesser-known candidates in the race would drop out not long after Fred jumped in. Tommy Thompson, Sam Brownback and Jim Gilmore likely would be the first to exit.
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