Fred Thompson, wife Jeri and daughter Hayden at the Iowa Christian Alliance Conference last month. Some evangelical leaders have questioned the former Tennessee senator’s commitment to battling same-sex marriage and abortion. He gets a chance to answer questions in debate tomorrow. AP photo by Kevin Sanders
by Mark Silva
Fred Thompson, who found a respectable place in the polling for the Republican Party's presidential nomination before he even entered the race, will find something new this week.
A place in a debate.
And the seasoned TV and film star has been practicing with an amateur actor for the party's front-runner.
With nine candidates on the stage in the two-hour Republican debate in Dearborn, Mich., sponsored by the Wall Street Journal, CNBC and MSNBC on Tuesday, much of the attention will be focused on the newcomer: The former Tennessee senator who has made considerable progress in his campaign without saying much of anything publicly yet.
Thompson is not the most polished of speakers, and in fact has attempted to low-ball expectations for his premier performance by pointing out that the other candidates have had a lot more practice at this sort of thing this year. The last time he debated was during his successful 1996 campaign for reelection to the Senate.
Aides say Thompson has held several practice sessions at campaign headquarters near Washington -- where they have paced him with timed responses and reviews of the answers.
Liz Sidoti of the Associated Press reports that Thompson has played against a stand-in for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani: former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato.
"We think that we'll hold our own, but obviously every other candidate on the stage has been going to these debates all year long. They've already gone through their preseason. This is our first scrimmage," Todd Harris, Thompson spokesman told the AP. "The most important thing for us is for Fred's message and answers to connect with Republican voters, and that's been our focus."
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Comments
I look forward to the debate. I haven't seen much of Fred and it will be nice to see him in action.
If he flounders tomorrow he is in real trouble.
Posted by: nisleib | October 8, 2007 3:48 PM
Ya gotta love the republicans scrambling to find a candidate they like. Thompson hasn't debated or really done anything and yet he is running second in the polls.
Posted by: bill r. | October 8, 2007 3:57 PM
"Thompson Spars With An Amateur Giuliani Stand-In"?
Really? was the Rudy stand-in wearing a dress and chanting 9/11?
Here's all Grandpa Fred needs to know about her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMveQ1sG9QU
Posted by: John E | October 8, 2007 4:00 PM
sounds like a stage production of "Dumb and Dumber"
Posted by: Carl L | October 8, 2007 4:14 PM
So basically this is two amateur stand-ins debating, right?
Posted by: kb | October 8, 2007 4:19 PM
Yeah you Dimbulbs should talk. Look at the group of losers you've trotted out to represent your party.
Posted by: Joe | October 8, 2007 4:44 PM
Isn't this debate going to go past Grandpa Fred's bedtime?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EpRdVMUbTG8
Posted by: Joohn E | October 8, 2007 5:47 PM
Fred Thompson;s message is week. He needs to start talking about the real issues. Do you even know what's really going on?
http://trueworldhistory.info
Posted by: Potts | October 8, 2007 6:19 PM
Fred Thompson is a great American. The left has started its politics of personal desctruction. It is a poor substitute for a platform too liberal to be presented in an honest fashion.
Posted by: Longo | October 8, 2007 6:31 PM
Watching fred in action should be similar to watching paint dry...but with less ideas.
Hot little trophy wife!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 8, 2007 6:53 PM
In honor of the 40th Anniversary of Che Guevara's execution by CIA Agent Felix Rodriguez, I hope Fred Thompson chomps down on one of his embargo free Cuban cigars at the debate to show he cant be pushed around by Michael Moore!
Booyah! to the Lefty Loonies! BooYAH! I say!
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | October 8, 2007 7:16 PM
This is just a waste of time really. Americans are too unattached (and I think that's a good thing) to care about politics at this time. Besides, since my friend was killed in Iraq, I will NEVER vote for a Republican.
Posted by: John | October 8, 2007 8:07 PM
Take a look at Mrs. Thompson. You'd want to go to bed early too!
The debate is important, because the Republicans need to find someone who can irritate Hillary, so she starts shrieking and sputtering, and make Barack Hussein Obama look inexperienced.
Posted by: Sam | October 8, 2007 8:42 PM
Fred Thompson is a great American. The left has started its politics of personal desctruction. It is a poor substitute for a platform too liberal to be presented in an honest fashion.
Posted by: Longo | October 8, 2007 6:31 PM
Put down the bongo..longo...the republicans were very proud of their personal attacks.
Posted by: bill r. | October 8, 2007 9:56 PM
It would have been interesting if, instead of a Giuliani stand-in to debate with, Fred Thompson faced a Ron Paul stand in. Now that would have been a good test, particularly since Rudy and Fred have similar messages and both are CFR members.
Ron Paul's record is consistent, his hands are clean and he has been 100% pro-Constitution. How does one argue against the Constitution? The Manchester Union Leader tried it and got their lunch eaten with a Ron Paul reply.
Does Thompson want to end the war? No. End the Patriot Act? No. End domestic surveillance of ordinary citizens? No.
I would love to see this debate!
Posted by: zenpiper | October 8, 2007 10:45 PM
The amateur Guliani must have had a field day. Don't read to much into that statement, Rudy's no wellspring of ideas either.
Republican debate yawn...
Posted by: toxic avenger | October 9, 2007 6:10 AM
I went to Fred Thompson's website to learn more on his policy regarding laziness. No surprise here, Thompson is all for it.
Posted by: Hank Jeffries | October 9, 2007 7:24 AM
Boy he has a tightrope to walk. He'd better answer the questions the right way...either he could lose his Hollywood pals or the "value voters".
Posted by: lochnessmonster | October 9, 2007 7:37 AM
Look at the photo. He's introducing Brittney to the Iowa Christian Alliance Conference. Does this tell you anything about his upcoming debate tactics?
Posted by: Giraffe | October 9, 2007 8:40 AM
maybe this time Freddie won't have to beg the audience for a round of applause when he's done:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/04/us/politics/04thompson.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
NEVADA, Iowa, Oct. 3 — Twenty-four minutes after he began speaking in a small restaurant the other day, Fred D. Thompson brought his remarks to a close with a nod of his head and an expression of thanks to Iowans for allowing him to “give my thoughts about some things.”
Then he stood face to face with a silent audience.
“Can I have a round of applause?” Mr. Thompson said, drawing a rustle of clapping and some laughter.
“Well, I had to drag that out of you,” he said.
Posted by: BC | October 9, 2007 10:23 AM
Why is Al D'Amato being called an amateuer?
Posted by: Laura Cap | October 9, 2007 3:31 PM