Thompson replaces campaign manager, raises some eyebrows
By Sam Youngman
Posted: 07/25/07 07:27 PM [ET]
Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.) Tuesday said former Sen. Fred Thompson’s (R-Tenn.) decision to replace his campaign manager — even though the campaign is not yet official — is indicative of an impending announcement that he will run for president.
Wamp said the decision to replace acting campaign manager Thomas Collamore with former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and strategist Randy Enright is further evidence the lawmaker-turned-actor is “preparing to pull the trigger.” “It’s the logical move when you’re preparing to go from ‘testing the waters’ to the next phase,” Wamp told The Hill. Representatives for Thompson could not be reached by press time.
Abraham served as energy secretary for President Bush and Enright is a GOP operative with Florida and Iowa ties, according to reports.
“Randy is a skilled strategic thinker and longtime behind-the-scenes operative in Florida who understands how to run a race in a state with diverse demographics and a history of close elections,” one Florida GOP operative said. “His skills will be an asset to the Thompson operation.”
The news comes just days before Thompson’s next scheduled trip to Washington. The former senator is holding a fundraiser at the J.W. Marriott on Monday.
Four more House Republican lawmakers have revealed they support Thompson even though Thompson has not yet formally launched a White House campaign.
A fundraising invitation sent out last week lists Reps. Louie Gohmert (Texas), Lee Terry (Neb.), Lynn Westmoreland (Ga.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.) as hosts for the event.
The unofficial endorsements are notable because they come from outside of Tennessee. Wicker’s support is the least surprising, perhaps, because he is Thompson’s fourth cousin.
Thompson now has 18 congressional endorsements. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) each have 27, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) has 17, according to a tally by The Hill.
Wamp said at least 10 other lawmakers “are really hot” to join Thompson, but they are waiting for him to make a formal announcement.
“It’s kind of, ‘We’re with him, but we want him to take a public step, then we’ll take a public step,’” Wamp said. Wamp, who is whipping up support for Thompson in the House, predicts that “a couple of dozen” lawmakers will announce support for Thompson at next week’s fundraiser.
Though some supporters have expressed frustration that Thompson has delayed his entrance into the race, Wamp said he thinks the former senator is smartly avoiding the candidate fatigue he thinks will afflict the current field.
Wamp added that he sees a window that will last as long as McCain’s campaign is perceived to be struggling, Giuliani’s lead “declines” and Romney emerges as one of the candidates to beat.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said she didn’t think it would hurt Thompson to wait as long as Labor Day before getting in, as the ex-senator continues to amass support and “an energy” on the Hill.
There has been much speculation about how much money Thompson is raising during his “testing the waters” phase.
A review provided by a potential rival campaign indicates that Thompson so far has attended five private fundraisers, not including one scheduled today in Houston and the one scheduled for Monday in Washington.
Wamp declined to speculate as to how much money the former senator has been able to bring in, but downplayed any expectations Thompson might be facing.
“The money has been just fine,” Wamp said. “But serious fundraising for him will be this fall.
“He [has] been able to skip the first $25 million of this campaign by being Fred Thompson and getting drafted. The big money will start next fall.”
