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Posted: August 30, 2007 6:28 PM
After Months of Water-testing, Thompson Sets Announcement Date
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The Politico reported that former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., currently undeclared in the presidential race, will make his much-anticipated official announcement of candidacy next Thursday, Sept. 6th. The senator is not, however, expected to participate at the GOP debate in New Hampshire the day before, Wednesday, Sept. 5th.

The Associated Press said that the announcement will be made in a webcast on Thompson’s campaign site. Later in the week the senator plans to travel to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.

Although the candidate’s team is gearing up for the announcement, the campaign was forced to deal with the sudden departure/ouster of Thompson’s communications director, Linda Rozett, a former U.S. Chamber of Commerce official.

”I don’t know what the story is,” Thompson told the Associated Press. ”I don’t know what to say about it except that she’s a wonderful lady.” In an e-mail to staffers, Bill Lacy, Thompson’s campaign manager, wrote, “I feel it critical to have a communications point person with significant campaign experience.”

Despite the sudden press operation shakeup, there was time to crank out another press release that announced a new Campaign Director. Todd Harris is the former communications strategist for Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jeb Bush as well as Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The New York Times published a look into Fred Thompson’s past as special counsel during the investigation of former intelligence director, William J. Casey, saying that the former prosecutor “straddled a fine line between investigating his target and defending them.”

The paper also published excerpts from 1973 transcripts in which President Richard Nixon commented on the then prosecutor. To H.R. Haldeman, his chief of staff, Nixon said about Thompson that, “You’d think this guy would be so totally dazzled to be in Washington that he’d be lost.”

According to the AP, on Monday, Aug. 27th, Thompson was in Minnesota for some campaigning at the state fair and a $1,000-per person fundraiser.

Thompson told the Politico, in regards to the next fundraising disclosure records, “I imagine we will fall off some in July and August and have a great September.” He added that he “would compare what we’ve been able to do in a few months with what others have done in their first few months, whenever that was.”