Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

After an unanticipated but unavoidable break yesterday here at ElephantBiz.com, The Daily Fred is back for today, Thursday, April 5, with another (almost) daily round-up of news, commentary and the best blog postings about former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson and his possible presidential candidacy that has reshuffled the Republican campaign.

Today we start with a Washington Times report indicating Thompson is moving closer to announcing his candidacy.

Friends and allies of former Sen. Fred Thompson are making a number of pre-campaign maneuvers indicating the actor plans to make a run for the White House. Several 2008-themed Web sites have been registered in recent weeks on behalf of Mr. Thompson, and one of his fellow Tennessee Republicans has recruited 60 House lawmakers to meet with Mr. Thompson on April 18 in Washington.

"This is not some passing fancy," said Rep. Zach Wamp, Tennessee Republican and co-chairman of the Draft Fred Thompson 2008 Committee. "I've signed up 60 House Republicans to meet with Senator Thompson on April 18, many of whom are ready to commit."

(...)

"There is no campaign; my work is literally voluntary," said Mark Corallo, Mr. Thompson's spokesman. "He's up at 4:30 a.m. each morning to tape the Paul Harvey show. Then he's on a plane to New York to tape 'Law & Order,' " said Mr. Corallo, a former colleague of Mr. Thompson's wife, Jeri. "He's got a ton of things going on, so we want to make this as painless as possible."

Mr. Thompson has said he will take his time deciding whether to embark on a presidential campaign, but Mr. Wamp suggested that the unexpected groundswell of support may have accelerated that timeline. "It's somewhat of a phenomenon. There is a whole lot of momentum, and you don't want to lose it," he said.

(...)

Sources close to Mr. Thompson said he was surprised by the enthusiastic reception to his trial balloon and that they expect an announcement in the next several weeks. 

Part of Mr. Thompson's surge in the polls has been attributed to his recent guest-hosting duties on Mr. Harvey's radio show, a popular conservative program, and a desire among the party's right wing for a more socially conservative candidate. 

Next, we look at a Gallup poll report that says Thompson "would face an uphill battle in a race for president" because, according to Gallup, "58% of adults know nothing about him."

Four percent correctly identified him with the TV show "Law and Order"-- the same number who expressed a wish that he run for president. Another 11% identified him, correctly, as an "actor." Just 1% said he was a "conservative/true conservative" and another 1% know that he was or is a "politician."

Terry Frank's analysis: "Coming in third AND people don’t know anything about you? I’d say despite the doom and gloom predictions of this article, that Fred Thompson is looking pretty darn good."

And now, the rest of today's Daily Fred...

...Warner Todd Huston at NewsBusters says the Left is starting up the "Fred Thompson is Just an Actor" drumbeat.

...In Thompson news out of Tennessee, the former Tennessee senator has asked the Tennessee legislature to not pass legislation renaming a stretch of highway in his hometown in his honor. Also in Thompson's home state there is a "Draft Fred Thompson" rally set for April 23 in Cookeville, Tennessee. Details here.

...Jim Geraghty of National Review reports that a source close to Thompson says Thompson is about "50–50" on running "because the polls have caught his eye."

...Christopher Adamo at TheRealityCheck.org explains why "Fred Thompson's day has arrived."

...The Right Wing Liberal blogger says "a trip down memory lane made me feel a lot better about the possible candidacy of Fred Thompson."

...But lefty blogger Cliff Schecter thinks he's got dirt on Thompson that ties Thompson to the Iran Contra scandal of the 1980s. (My prediction: The Left will beat this like a dead horse and it won't dent Thompson.)

...more to come...