Reid Wilson at RealClearPolitics says that Fred Thompson has waited too long to get into the ‘08 race:
Fred Thompson had his chance to make a splashy entrance into the race. In fact, he has had many chances to do something to impress political watchers and his fans on the right. Time and again, though, he has missed those opportunities. Instead of managing expectations and raising impressive sums, his campaign reported disappointingly low numbers. Instead of hiring a staff and sticking with it, his campaign has already been beset by turnover. Instead of serving as the conservatives’ best hope, they are forced to make excuses as to why his positions are acceptable to them.
Every day he remains out of the race is another day of organizing and winning support lost. At some point, time simply runs out. Thompson has simply waited too long to take advantage of the good will, good fortune and good position that awaited him once he entered the race.
Blake D. Dvorak, also found at RealClearPolitics, says different:
Fred Thompson has not missed his moment. The frustration that we’re supposed to be feeling about his delayed entry into the race is being driven by an impatient media and a base aware that most of the primary events up till now mean little. Thompson’s entry, whatever his chances, will be a big event that will overshadow all the summer’s trivial twists and turns.
…
We also should remember that it’s still very early. The new Quinnipiac University poll released yesterday puts the race in some context: Sixteen percent of those Republicans surveyed have no clue about whom they support. In June, that number was 17%; in May, 16%; in February, 15%. What this consistency should tell us is that a sizable portion of the GOP electorate has not been focused on the race.
As someone who is interested in Fred Thompson as a candidate, I can say that I am getting impatient and am looking more and more at supporting other candidates. There is an old saying that comes to mind, that I will only mention part of.
Fred, it is time to “get off the pot.”
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