Well. In the first 48 hours anyway. From The NY Sun:
Even better, this is all money that John McCain needs to stay alive. It's an impressive start but even more than that it's a sign to the rest of the political establishment that Fred Thompson is real and it's definitely OK to align yourself with him. Think about it. He's raised more in a couple of weeks than some of the 2nd Tier candidates have raised in four months. Those second tier candidates could not convince anyone that they are for real and are denied the resources they would need to break through. I'm specifically thinking of Brownback and Huckabee.According to the Thompson campaign, these are the results of the first 48 hours since they launched imwithfred.com and announced it on "Hannity & Colmes" after the GOP debate:
In 48 hours since the Web site launch (with no paid advertising, or pre-oorganized push by donor operation):Or: $7,340 an hour. If they could keep that up for a month (just as an admittedly silly mathematical exercise), they'd have $5.3 million by early July.29,463 registered supporters
$352,323.00 in donations
3,360 contributors
Stephen Hayes in the Weekly Standard has a great column tracking Fred Thompson's 0-60 rise showing that there was a little more planning than is generally credited.
Thompson's wife Jeri, a savvy Republican strategist with Capitol Hill experience, asked Mark Corallo, an old friend and public relations guru, to see what he might do to raise her husband's profile in Washington. Thompson had not altogether retired from politics when he left the Senate in January 2003: He was serving as chairman of the State Department's International Security Advisory Board. He was a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a member of the U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission, and a commentator for ABC Radio.Sounds like Mrs. Thompson has already proven to be a big asset to the campaign and was the one who first kicked this little snowball down the hill.Corallo had left his job as spokesman at the Justice Department to open a media consulting firm and agreed to take on the low-intensity work as a favor and without pay. He quietly began to highlight Thompson's activities, in particular calling attention to Thompson's radio work. When the provocative radio commentaries were published on National Review's popular website beginning in January 2007, other conservative websites began to link to them with some regularity--viral marketing, as they say in the online world, and arguably the informal beginning of Thompson's campaign.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Success in fundraising could be an indicator of wide public support for a campaign. Personally, I don't swing as far right as Mr. Thompson, but I can understand that true Conservatives may have felt under represented in the race to date.
Still want to see him on MySpace, if he has any kind of message for the younger set. Its not about how many friends you can log, but about having something on there for them to relate to.
Steve Bonomo at 4:47PM on Jun 9th 2007
2. What this country DOESN'T NEED, is another puppet who knows how to read and act out someone else's script. This indecisive actor has never been "serious" about his "politics". He is only interested in seeing if he can snag this plumb of a "part". What he "doesn't know" about being President would fill an entire season of dialog. We need someone who "knows" something about what it means to be responsible for running this country. Not someone who doesn't even "know" if he wants the job.
Anne at 3:41AM on Jun 10th 2007
3. Anne,
You make mention what Thompson doesn't know about presidency could fill a room. My God woman, who would do you think knows or is qualified to be a president? Would it be a second term senator from NY or a first term senator from Ill? I hope you don't have blinders on.
Tom Frasier at 10:45PM on Jun 10th 2007
4. Fred Thompson is the person we need in the White House he will get the job done and do it right i hope and pray this is done for the USA. We need to do something right and this is the right way to go. thank you fred for running you have my vote.
bill hamby at 1:44PM on Jun 11th 2007
5. I dont think he is a puppet, he is the real thing and it is WAY too early for anyone to make judgement.
prepaid cell phone at 1:50PM on Jun 11th 2007
6. AMERICA WILL ELECT FRED BECAUSE HE SPEAKS DIRECTLY AND HONESTLY, HE HAS THE PRESENCE AND CHARM A PRESIDENT OR ANY REAL LEADER NEEDS TO LEAD HUMAN BEINGS AND HAVE THEM FOLLOW. WE NEED THIS (MOUNTIN OF A MAN) TO RE-ASSURE OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ALLIES IN THIS THREATING TIME WE LIVE IN. YOU CAN LOOK INTO HIS EYES AND SEE HE IS SERIOUS AND SMART. HES THE ONE FOR THE JOB AND HE HAS MY FULL SUPPORT
COMAR at 2:16PM on Jun 11th 2007
7. Mr. Thompson is Intellgent, articulates very well
he would make a great President. Are you people forgetting whos in there now come on. Mc Caine is a no brainer him and his immigration Bill.
Fred Thompson you have my Vote.
ptrcsssn9 6/11/07
patricia at 3:01PM on Jun 11th 2007
8. I will vote for the best person,that will bring peace to this great country of ours,and stops killing all our young people that have not lived yet.
lly
louise l young at 3:38PM on Jun 11th 2007
9. Fred Thompson is a breath of fresh air in this presidential race. He speaks clearly, plainly and honestly and inspires confidence. He is not just another actor/candidate; he has proven credentials: U.S. attorney, campaign manager, co-counsel to the Watergate hearings that led to President Nixon's resignation, lobbyist and U.S. Senator. He is also a rareity among the candidates as his acting career has prepared him for public life along with giving him financial security apart from government. He is conservative and that speaks to his being in touch with the majority of the population. He's already got my vote!
DJPatton at 3:52PM on Jun 11th 2007
10. I had high hopes that Mr. Fred Thompson would run, and now it looks like it will happen. To me this is our greatest hope of having a great leader. The rest, in both parties, pale by comparison.
Lowell Fetty at 4:01PM on Jun 11th 2007
11. Come on Fred! I like Fred because I don't think he is part of the Congressional Club. They don't like hime and say that he was lazy. His retort was that he did not want to hang around and BS and do nothing. That was long before he even thought about running. I am looking for more but thus far he looks like he is not beholdan to the Washington Bunch. I was a government executive (GFM-15-10), though not a in the executive department saw a lot in my 46 years. We need neew blood who owes nothing to either party. If he runs I will send him contributions but not to the RNC. Hope he teams up with Rudy, but I don't know who should be first. Luck to both!
JohnDelia at 4:35PM on Jun 11th 2007
12. This is a repeat. First one did not go through. Hoping they both make it. GO FRED. It like him because he is not a member of the Washington club. They don't like him and say that he was lazy. His lazyness was that he did not want to hang around for hours, BS, and do nothing. This was long before he was considered to run for pres. Maybe he can link up with Rudy. What a team. But who would we pick for number one. Either one is better than the rest of the pack.
JohnDelia at 4:42PM on Jun 11th 2007
13. A light is beginning to appear at the end of the tunnel.Both political parties in america have rendered themselves basically impotent.The odd part is,neither party seems to represent the majority of the people.That so-called silent majority.I see nothing but a bunch of wannabes in both parties.Egos and agendas.By the time fred thompson allows the media to scrutinize everything he does or might do,it just may be too late for the egos and agendas.He just might have already become what america wants and needs, one more good man.
bob at 5:57PM on Jun 11th 2007
14. The only real conservative that is running would be Congressman Ron Paul of Texas. You probably don't believe me? Check his voting record. The neo-cons like Thompson want to increase the size of government. Tommy Thompson wants to microchip us. Google it!
John Jackson Warne NC
John Jackson at 11:03PM on Jun 11th 2007
15. I have tried three times and hope this makes it. GO FRED, I like him because he is not one of the Washington club. They don't like him and say he was lazy. His laziness was not hanging around, BSing, and doing nothing. And that came long before he was thought of presidential. Maybe he should hook up with Rudy. What a team. But who would be number one. First things first, first we have to politically
bury the rest of the junk on both sides who want to be pres.
JohnDelia at 3:31PM on Jun 12th 2007