Team Thompson Growing
21 June 2007Former Senator Fred Thompson’s official support is continuing to grow. Some big names are starting to endorse him, raise money, quietly work behind the scenes, or give vocal support. First up from the Hill:
Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) has hired a finance director for the Northeast and Midwestern regions, turbo-charging his money machine for a full-on bid for the White House.
The Hill has learned that Sarah Newman, now at the Washington lobbying firm of Cassidy and Associates, has been hired by Thompson’s campaign as one of its top regional finance directors.
Newman would not comment when contacted by The Hill. Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo said by e-mail that the campaign is still very much in exploratory mode, but has no announcements to make yet.
“If he gets in, you’re going to see a lot of people jumping ship from different places,” said one lobbyist who is now supporting former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani but admits he is considering joining Team Thompson.
“It’s something that’s up in the air, but I would consider it,” the source said.
Michael Curb, a prominent member of the recording industry and former California lieutenant governor, will host a fundraiser for Thompson at his Nashville home June 26, according to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who is helping organize the event.
Blackburn said the event will probably rake in $250,000 for Thompson’s bid, but perhaps more significantly, Curb’s support could make the Thompson campaign attractive to music industry moguls who straddle the Hollywood, New York and Nashville scenes.
also…
Another influential member of Team Thompson, Ken Reitz, helped found Curb Records and now is a senior counselor at the Washington-based political campaign and commercial advertising firm 360Advantage. 360Advantage is a joint venture of the consulting firms of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Burson-Marsteller, BKSH & Associates and Direct Impact.
Some early looks:
Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), Thompson’s leading cheerleader in the House, says the former senator will visit the Capitol a week from Friday to unveil his full team of House supporters and designate specific policy chairmen both within Congress and the larger Washington political world.
Blackburn as well as GOP Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) and Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) will be on hand, as will one other unidentified member of the Republican leadership team. Wamp also said former Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.), now a partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, is part of a growing policy team.
And some other supporters named found here:
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, said yesterday that he plans to endorse former Sen. Fred Thompson’s (R-Tenn.) presidential campaign. McCotter is the second member of the House Republican leadership to throw his support to Thompson.
“I think he provides the best opportunity in the Republican Party to put forward the stature and policies [needed] to end the perception of societal chaos in the United States,” said McCotter. “Fred Thompson is a mainstream conservative to put America on the right track.”
While in other news, George Allen voiced his support of Thompson last night. While not an official endorsement, Allen has been involved with the insiders of the Thompson campaign, and helping Thompson quietly. Allen had this to say, courtesy of Ryan Sager:
That has not kept Allen from following the current GOP field, and in an interview with The Hill, Allen offered his thoughts on those who have taken his place as Republican White House hopefuls.
Allen introduced former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) when the probable presidential candidate keynoted the state party’s gala earlier this month.
“I think [a Thompson candidacy] is good,” Allen said. “I would encourage him to do so.”
Though Allen said he is not yet endorsing a Thompson bid, he did say that to grassroots Republicans “who care about the party,” Thompson’s popularity indicates “there has been a bit of a void for someone with a proven conservative record.”
Thompson, Allen said, is “resonating with people” because he espouses the “realization that all wisdom’s not in Washington — in fact, little wisdom’s in Washington.”
“I think Fred’s off to a very good start,” Allen said, pointing to recent polls that show Thompson’s numbers rising despite the fact that he is not an announced candidate.
Loading ...
