Thompson Adds A Breath Of Fresh Air

By Lee Bandy
SouthCarolina Inisder

(6/8/07) Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee is gaining support among South Carolina Republican conservatives who are not completely pleased with their current choice of White House hopefuls.

Surely, there must be somebody else, they say, as party activists scramble to find a favorite in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes.

Who might it be?

Some have fingered Thompson.

He’s a “good fit” on the issues, says U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, a Westminster Republican, who recently endorsed the Tennessean.

A growing number of conservative Republicans think Thompson can win the whole ball of wax.

Barrett is the only S.C. congressional member to embrace Thompson. The others seem content to remain neutral for the time being.

“So far, nobody has made the sale,” said David Keene, head of the American Conservative Union, an organization that keeps close tabs on the voting records of the members of Congress.

The growing support for Thompson, he said, is more a reflection of weakness than of strength.

Thompson, seen by some Republicans as the savior of the party has formed an exploratory campaign committee, the step normally taken before announcing as an official candidate.

Thompson is expected to announce his candidacy in July. Supporters are seeking to raise $4.6 million to help launch the former senator and “Law and Order” star.

He’ll join the other 10 candidates, each of whom has his own set of skills. But none seems to have the ability to communicate the big picture to the people like Thompson can. He often is compared to another actor turned president, Ronald Reagan.

Former U. S. Rep. Tommy Hartnett of Charleston, a supporter of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president, says he is a big fan of Thompson but adds the Tennessean will have peaked the day he announces.

It’s all down hill after that, Hartnett said.

“He’ll have to start answering questions. The free ride will have ended,” Hartnett said.

Three South Carolina congressional members have declined to endorse anyone at this stage. They include Joe Wilson of Lexington, Bob Inglis of Greenville and Henry Brown of Hanahan. They say they still are listening to all of the candidates, weighing their strengths and weaknesses.

Inglis said U. S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas has positions on issues quite similar to his. But he quickly added that doesn’t mean he would endorse the mid-westerner.

The three undecided members indicated they would withhold any endorsements until fall.

Asked whom Thompson’s entry into the race might hurt the most among the 10 candidates, they all said Romney.

“He has been making his most aggressive play for the conservatives. He and Thompson would both be competing for the same vote,” Inglis said.

Thompson’s own polling data show him winning 18 percent of the Republican primary electorate, stealing almost all of his votes from former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Thompson’s approval ratings may never be higher than on the day before he announces.

Early polls have shown him to be strong in the South.

He ran a strong fourth in a survey taken recently by Winthrop University for The State newspaper and SCETV.

A national survey conducted May 30-June by InsiderAdvantage Majority Opinion, an Atlanta-based firm, had Thompson in second place.

One could see the South getting behind Thompson. He has the right credentials, attributes, and experience to be the GOP’s best hope in 2008.

“He’s a celebrity,” noted state Republican Chairman Katon Dawson. “And would add a new flare to the campaign.”

Lois Eargle, Horry County auditor and long-time party member, said Thompson would bring a “breath of fresh air” into the GOP.

He has a base of support in the South and needs only to communicate his upbeat message to the rest of the country that needs some encouragement.