NOTE: To Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson: Make your decision soon

Senator Thompson, in the past few months you have flirted with the notion of running for President. An excited number of Republicans, including myself, have been exuberant at the thought. We are more than impressed with your abilities to communicate and to lead than any candidate in the field. Nothing you have said or done from now since those early rumblings has changed my impression.

But, Senator, there are many who are going out on a limb to support your candidacy. They are sacrificing other opportunities which hold great political potential. As the Republican debates roll on, every ‘Thompson supporter’ has to worry about what they have lost by not supporting an announced candidate. If you don’t declare very shortly, you will have marginalized the opinions and opportunities of the very people that would have been your most vociferous supporters.

The Republican field is now semi-solidified, awaiting your entrance.

Please run. We implore you. I am a blogger and the support I see for you is incredible. I remember sitting with my father and watching Die Hard 2, and he mentioned how Presidential you seemed. I gave it short shrift, but inside I liked the persona. I would vote for a troll if it believed what I did. You are not a troll, and you believe what I do. Please run.
To the people that would fight on your side, and I count myself as one of them, there is no question. Senator, you need to come to that answer very very soon.

Mr Thompson goes to Washington

and

Woos smitten Congressmen

WASHINGTON - The welcome for Fred Thompson wasn't just warm, it was effusive.
The former Tennessee senator and actor is still weighing whether to run for the GOP presidential nomination but House Republicans who met with him Wednesday gushed over the prospects of Thompson candidacy.

They called him presidential, a leader, a proven conservative, an exciting prospect and "a breath of fresh air."

"I wanted to come over and see some of my old friends and make some new friends and tell them what was on my mind and listen and to see what was on their minds," Thompson said in a brief statement to reporters camped outside the Capitol Hill Club.

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (news, bio, voting record), R-Ga., said: "there was a breath of fresh air in the room today," while Rep. Steve Buyer (news, bio, voting record), R-Ind., added: "he spoke as though he was a president." Rep. David Davis (news, bio, voting record), R-Tenn., said people are looking for a candidate with a proven conservative voting record and "Fred Thompson's the man."

Even those congressmen who wouldn't yet commit offered praise.

"Very impressive," said Rep. Adam Putnam (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla. "He has the charisma and the fortitude to lead our nation at what is a very difficult time." And Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record), R-N.C., called Thompson a straight shooter, and said: "I'm looking for somebody that can excite America again

UPDATE: Cong. Zach Wamp, "not if, but when"

FDT - charged and ready

Ratchetin it up...

WASHINGTON - After disclosing Wednesday that he has lymphatic cancer, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, perhaps best known for his TV role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's "Law and Order," is accelerating his schedule of public appearances. Advisors say this reflects his growing seriousness about entering the race for the White House.

On Friday morning Thompson is scheduled to attend the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington. He will be there with his wife Jeri at the Washington Hilton's ballroom event. President Bush will be there to make remarks.

A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll released Wednesday indicates Thompson, who has yet to announce his candidacy, has risen to #2, ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain.