People, no one but us political wonkies are even paying attention to
the races yet!!! Fred knows this and he is saving his cash until he
needs it. -WTH

That is so true. And even some of us are not into this yet. I didn't watch the debate. Other than commenting on stuff here, just for the fun of discussion, I am not really into this race yet. Look at it this way: Hillary Clinton has already had 3 different strategies on this war since she announced. By next year, no one will remember.

I believe the 24/7 news thing has a lot to do with the way the election season keeps getting moved up, the way the stores start putting stuff out for the next holiday as soon as one is past (Halloween candy is in the supermarket already). They need stuff to talk about, so they start speculating about people (as with Obama) and that sort of forces everyone's hands. Clinton would never had declared so early if not for him. And the early debates give the 24 hour news cycle people and talking heads something to chew on.

I think Thompson was smart to stay out this long. It's less time that his every utterance is under scrutiny, and he has not had re-iterate and clarify every statement, nor explain why a couple of commas in today's position are different from yesterday's.

I have to agree with you as well, WTH.  While I may not be voting for Thompson, I think the man is a good canidate to add to the mix.  Oddly enough, not to repeat the tag line of last night, but I think McCain too *really* impressed me by planting his feet down.  He's always took a stance on many things that weren't always popular, but they almost came off as suggestions or musings rather than something he was willing to put his name behind.  Last night I saw the most confident McCain since 2000.  The only thing I REALLY didn't like is that hes more malleable that I would like my President to be on illegal immigration.  Aside from that, I think he's making steps in the right direction (no pun intedned :-P)  I also hate to say it, but the guy I initially was backing when we began to hear about potential GOP canidates back in 06, Rudy, well he was awfully stuck on using his time as Mayor of New York to answer all most every question.  Its not that that was the problem necessarily, but hes so much more than just that and its a shame he didn't focus on the other great things he's done.  Aside from that, I thought how he answered that question of how his personal life may affect how others view him as a potential leader was a great response.  He started by admitting that, yes, how someone works within their family structure *is* usually a good measuring stick of what kind of person they are, but that of all the great things hes accomplished, it would seem, that although his personal life isnt without problems, he doesn't let it define him.

All that aside I was proud of the man I'm backing and I think he did very well, especially in a debate where only one, possibly two, people were anything but completely at odds with him.  I'm interested to see how Fred does though.  So far, as you've said WTH, he's been very wise with keeping his funds until they are absolutely needed and approaching this in almost a candid way, it comes off, to me at least, as a guy I can relate to.  He isn't here to woo us or buy our votes with stolen, swinddled money gathered by bail jumpers.  Who knows, perhaps, by the primaries, I may find Thompson is the better match.  I'm just waiting to hear what social stances he runs on in this race.