'Candidate' Fred Thompson: Ripped from the Headlines?

From dinner to dinner, conservatives are traveling the country taking straw polls, listening to industrialists, and eating a lot of pork trying to find a suitable candidate. As yet, no one can be found. But Hollywood may be the answer.

Hollywood? Could it be? Could the Hollywood bashers of the last decade be embracing Hollywood?

Dick Wolf's Law & Order gavel is the new favorite sound within the Republican Party. With just an appearance on Fox, Fred Thompson has fired up so much interest that Mitt Romney is looking for a new state to sell carpets.

A newly released Gallup poll shows Thompson third with 12% behind Guiliani (31%) and McCain (22%). Yes, it is remarkable that McCain has regained ground, but the news is Fred Thompson, who has done just a few well-placed interviews. John Fund's "On the Trail" column for the Wall Street Journal has given the bon fides of the actor and why he's the right guy for conservatives. It resonated.

What isn't mentioned in the columns on Thompson: "married three times, pro-choice, gay rights." What you do see are: former co-counsel Senate Watergate investigation, US Senator, assistant US attorney, guided John Roberts' confirmation to Supreme Court." To Republicans, he is Mr. Law & Order.

Since his appearance on Fox's Sunday morning program, he's left all doors open, which has led to March Madness. Thompson's Wikipedia profile is updated daily to include a 2008 Presidential bid. He doesn't have to run around the country, he appears nightly as "Arthur Branch" in reruns. Thompson is filling in this week for Paul Harvey on a national syndicated radio program that reaches 22 million a week. Campaign? Why bother?

This could be the uber strategy. Stay away from Washington, stay away from the media, stay away from the grass roots electorate...for now. Most importantly, stay away from those other declared candidates and any scheduled debates.

There is some irony to the fact that Fred Thompson was elected to his Senate seat when it was vacated by the incoming Vice President Al Gore. Could they meet in 2008? Two men who are getting exposure now thru their appearances in movies and television?

Pundits are chomping at the bit for Thompson to get into the fray. "(Thompson's) in the Hunt for a Red October," "(McCain's) In the Line of Fire," "No Way out (for Guiliani)" all play with Thompson's credits.

Fun fact: Thompson is the author of "What did the President know and when did the President know it?" asked by Sen. Howard Baker at the Watergate hearings. (You just know that everyone will ask him this question if he runs.)

It is stunning to think that the GOP now must go back to the Hollywood trough for a candidate. It happened once: Reagan. But this time....a television actor? Oh, yes, Ronnie was the GE spokesperson. And Thompson actually represented GE as a lobbyist between gigs. Good heavens. But he's a Law and Order candidate, so that's okay.