“Fred Thompson to Form Presidential Committee”
Fred is ALL OVER THE NEWS today as he begins to make his move to enter the presidential race. Fred’s forming a presidential committee, filing FEC papers, preparing a website - it’s all great news! Check out the latest from the Washington Post:
Thompson, who has been fueling speculation that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination with a spate of appearances and speeches around the country, urged a group of donors in a conference call yesterday to each attempt to raise a total of $46,000 from 10 couples starting on June 4, according to two participants in the call. Once the money begins flowing, Thompson will begin to hire a campaign staff and set up headquarters in Washington and Nashville, his advisers said.
In addition, the nascent campaign is planning to launch a Web site in the next 10 days, according to one person familiar with campaign planning. Thompson will give a speech in Virginia this weekend and is scheduled to appear on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” next month.
The papers Thompson intends to file on Friday with the Federal Elections Commission will allow the former Tennessee senator to test the waters by raising money that could be used once he declares officially, several sources said. The committee he will establish will be called “Friends of Fred Thompson.”
“It allows for testing the waters, to see if the financial resources are going to be there to mount a campaign, set up an operation and continue to get ready to announce his candidacy,” said one source with knowledge of Thompson’s immediate plans.
Thompson’s advisers have discussed making that announcement over the July 4th weekend, using the hoopla of the national holiday as a backdrop for the official launch of the campaign. But those plans are in flux and could change, two sources said today. One source said a formal announcement is likely to come “around that time.”
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