Averaged close to 1,500 people per hour signing up as friends Averaged $12,000 per hour in contributions Raised more than $220,000 dollars via the website Seen just under half of the Friends send a message to others asking them to sign up or give.
Patrick Ruffini is a good source, but note the numbers come from Fred's people.
If these numbers are remotely realistic, Thompson is tapping into GOP sources that have been holding back and waiting. These donations are from normal people who give $10 or so. Imagine what his numbers will be with the big money donors.
This has to be seen as extremely disheartening to the second and third tier GOP candidates. It has to be downright scary to candidates such as Romney and McCain who have been struggling of late (read: last week or so). It should come down to a Giuliani vs. Thompson race with the loser being the VP candidate. Either way, it will be a formidable pairing with one offsetting the other on social issues with the public.
If Fred were smart, he'd get in before the next debate, throw out a few zingers and watch the riff-raff like Ron Paul and Tommy Thompson fall by the wayside.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Dear Scott,
Your neoconservative rantings are tiresome. I know your type is collectively wetting your pants over this Fred Thompson character... because he's an actor you're just so excited that he could be the next Reagan... yawn.
Thompson's politics are indistinguishable from all the other GOP candidates save Ron Paul. Paul is truly an interesting and dynamic candidate. I can only suppose that your disrespect and dismissal of him is due to your ignorance of him...
Paul has never voted to raise taxes. He's always voted in line with the Constitution. He's probably the most conservative member of Congress. He respects individual liberty. He's a scholar of economics. Go read some of his writings: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul-arch.html
Paul is a superb candidate and a great statesman. He's certainly not 'riff-raff'.
If Paul does fall by the wayside from a few 'zingers' from Thompson it will be a sad day for America.
Go Ron Paul at 10:01PM on Jun 6th 2007
2. I get a kick when I see Reagan selected as the best president, the one who went to sleep every time when he had a reunion with his assistants on the White House, he was a charming man, muy simpático but a lousy President, wich proves that TV and the movies influence the voters the must. They don't read, they only watch whenever the politicians say something like Bush in the carrier proclaming "Mission Acomplished!"
lloviznita at 10:22PM on Jun 6th 2007
3. This is ridiculous. If he's raising money, he's in the race. This reminds of McCain going on Letterman to announce that he was going to come back later and announce. This makes it look like a game. There are serious issues out there. We have people giving up their lives every day at an increasing rate, while some of these pols play footsie with the voters.
Steve Bonomo at 11:37PM on Jun 6th 2007
4. Scott,
Congressman Ron Paul has a medical degree from Duke University and has delivered over 4,000 babies. He and his wife have raised 5 children, 3 of them who are now physicians. He served his country with honor as a flight surgeon. He is a 10 term US Congressman. He is a very accomplished patriot.
That's riff-raff? I'd say your credibility is about zero.
Stephanie Butcher at 12:10AM on Jun 7th 2007
5.
I will vote for this man Ron Paul, He is the only one that told the damn truth,
Texmac at 12:43AM on Jun 7th 2007
6.
FRED THOMPSON, PRESIDENT MIKE HUCKABEE, VICE PRESIDENT.
Michael J. Loftis at 1:34AM on Jun 7th 2007
7. Ron Paul may be riff-raff to you Scott, which means you're afraid to see this country getting back to being run according to the Constitution of the United States.
Robert L. at 5:38AM on Jun 21st 2007
8. MEDIA BIAS AGAINST RON PAUL. WHAT ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF?
Robert L. at 1:11AM on Jun 7th 2007
9.
FRED THOMPSON, PRESIDENT
MIKE HUCKABEE, VICE PRESIDENT
PELOSI AND REID A DISGRACE TO THE UNITED STATES.
Michael J. Loftis at 1:46AM on Jun 7th 2007
10. The first commandment in a Presidential race is "Thou Must Want It, but Not Too Bad". Fred Thompson has violated the first commandment. Fred wants the Party to give it to him. Democrats have been fully aware of the fact that Fred was the next logical choice for Republicans. The moment Kerry lost we have been preparing for Fred and his Hollywood connections. There is a reason freedom of speech has been attacked. There is a reason Congress is trying to silence us and label us as "Bigots". There is a reason for the Patriot Act. America has not told the truth. This is a function of this "Affirmative Access Administration". They are looking for a successor they can trust. They will need a real actor to pull this one off. It's a race against the truth.
Cecil Jones at 3:31AM on Jun 7th 2007
11. Hello, my name is Frank. I am a native Tennesseean. I am a member of the First Families of Tennessee which requires having desendants living in Tennessee prior to Tennessee becoming a state in 1796.
fred thompsom may be the next president if donkies can fly! If you dug ole NEO-ronnie reagan up and put a littla botox and make-up on and proped him up like good ole boy BERNEY, well I sure would vote for BARNEY but I SHALL NOT SAY A GOOD WORD ABOUT the leach freddy as in the movies. Excuse my french but I would not piss in his ass as his guts SHALL BE ON FIRE. his choice with GOD not mine?
Peace to you and yours America, Iraq, Afganistan and all people who suffers pain.
Frank Bolin at 10:03AM on Jun 7th 2007
12. Who is Thompson? Now there is the racist former governor from Wisconson, Tommy, darling of the energy companies, AND there is MySpace Fred.
Hmmm... Has Howard Dean been raising cash by selling last election's now-obsolete technology to the other side?
June May August at 11:29AM on Jun 7th 2007
13. Ronald Reagan, Fred Grandy, Sonny Bono, Arnold Schwartzenegger, and now Fred Thompson. Why is it that the far right always rail against the Hollywood elites and then try to nominate them when they have no other viable candidates?
nysteveo2 at 2:01PM on Jun 7th 2007
14. Scott, when you talk bad abou Ron Paul, you're just exposing to everyone WHO you ARE
Rob at 7:14PM on Jun 7th 2007
15. For GoRonPaul-
Thompson is NOT a neocon like Bush and his adminstration. Thompson is an old school conservative who believes in states rights and a strict interpretation of the constitution.
Although he agrees we should stay the course in Iraq, this doesn't make him a neocon because anybody of any political preference can see that if we leave the middle east will be in turmoil and gasoline prices will escalate even higher.
Vincent D. at 10:47PM on Jun 7th 2007