Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

Fred Thompson is in second place in Texas, and he hasn't even declared yet that he's a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. A press release from the official non-official Draft Fred organization tells the tale:

The Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee today announced that 54 of 81 Texas State House Republicans and several Republican Texas State Senators have joined the growing effort to encourage former United States Senator Fred Thompson to seek the presidency. Texas Land Commissioner and Draft Committee leadership team member, Jerry Patterson, has spoken with each Legislator and found an increasingly strong desire to see Thompson become a candidate.

In another indication of growing support in Texas , a new independent poll conducted by Baselice & Associates shows Thompson tied for second place statewide with 19 percent of the vote. Senator John McCain also showed 19 percent and NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani led with 24 percent. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney held eight percent.

"These poll numbers reflect the enthusiasm I’m seeing in the Legislature and around the state. In Texas , the momentum in the race for president is clearly with Fred Thompson. If he enters this campaign, we can put him in the lead within 30 days," said Patterson.

Texas is the kind of state where Thompson would play well with voters. But, so would McCain and even Giuliani as Texas and New York City share a lot more in common than the Pace picante sauce commercials would have you believe. They say everything's bigger in Texas, while New York is "the Big Apple."