Thompson 08!
Report: Fred Thompson To Launch “Testing The Waters” Committee
Ryan Sager reports that Fred Thompson will officially launch a Presidential committee early next week, possibly as soon as this Sunday. Sources close to Thompson characterize it as a “testing the waters” committee, one step short of an exploratory committee — it will allow Thompson to raise money and hire staff, but he will not yet be able to advertise, publicly refer to himself as a candidate, raise money that could be transferred to other candidates, or raise money to get on state ballots.Thompson To Officially Declare On July 4
Meanwhile, The Politico reports that Thompson will officially declare his candidacy on July 4, and also announce “that he has already raised several million dollars and is being backed by insiders from the past three Republican administrations.” And as for what his actual campaign will be like, his old red pickup truck gimmick that he bought for his 1994 Senate race will be making a comeback.
OOPS! Update:
Sphere: Related ContentNo July 4 Announcement For Fred Thompson
Just talked to a Thompson source I’ll call “TA3″ (Thompson Associate 3). Much more coming shortly, but the first word was, there will not be a presidential announcement from Fred Thompson on July 4.
(The Politico got it wrong, it appears.)
TA3: “There will be no July 4 announcement… There was some discussion of a June 4 beginning of fundraising; that’s the date checks will be collected. I suspect that’s where there was some confusion.”
The forthcoming announcement will be that Thompson is “testing the waters.” While Thompson is in that not-quite-announced-candidate stage, he will be able to complete previously commmitted paid appearances and speeches and continue work his work on ABC radio and filling in for Paul Harvey. He is not lining up additional paid speeches or appearances.
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