Fred’s In, Newt’s Out

Fred Thompson is in and Newt Gingrich is out of the GOP presidential race. At least, that’s my reading of the Galenometer.

“Veteran Republican operative Rich Galen has signed on as a senior advisor to former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tennessee, who is exploring a bid for the GOP presidential nomination,” reported CNN yesterday…repeated in Galen’s “Mullings” cyber-column this morning.

I suggest that someone like Rich Galen, an A-list political strategist, doesn’t officially announce he’s going to work for a presidential candidate unless that candidate truly is going to be a presidential candidate. So Fred Thompson is in, even though he still won’t make a “formal” announcement until September…after Galen has crafted and fine-tuned the message.

This also leads me to believe that Newt is out.

Galen was a top Gingrich lieutenant in the days of the Republican Revolution. He handled the Speaker’s communications operation and later ran GOPAC, the organization Gingrich used to propel Republicans into the majority in 1994. It’s doubtful Galen would have hopped onboard the Fred-Head bandwagon unless he was pretty sure Gingrich wasn’t going to toss HIS hat in the ring this fall, too. And considering their past relationship, it’s likely Rich and Newt have each other on speed-dial.

Then again, my Galenometer could be on the fritz.

Posted on July 23rd, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: National

3 Responses to “Fred’s In, Newt’s Out”

  1. John Smith, on July 23rd, 2007 at 7:05 am Said:

    Hard to believe that John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency on January 2, 1960, ten months before the election, and that was considered early back then. Forty-seven years later, there has been concern that Fred Thompson would be hurt by waiting too long to jump into the race, and we’re still 15 months away from the election.

  2. Terri, on July 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 am Said:

    Love Fred Thompson. I like Newt, too.

  3. the Grit, on July 25th, 2007 at 1:53 pm Said:

    Hi Chuck,

    While Newt is brilliant, he’d never stand a chance in a general election, and probably wouldn’t be all that good of a President even if he won. As Vice President though, he would be perfect. Besides, being from Tennessee, I have to go with Thompson :)

    the Grit

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