Thompson announces on Leno
Former Tennessee senator declares his presidential bid while opponents debate in New Hampshire.
Fred D. Thompson formally launched his presidential bid Wednesday night on a late-night talk show as eight rivals for the Republican presidential nomination hashed out their differences across the country in a New Hampshire debate.
"I'm running for president of the United States," the former Tennessee senator told a cheering crowd on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno."
An actor known to millions as a matter-of-fact district attorney on NBC's "Law and Order," Thompson set out quickly to capture the support of conservatives who have been wary of the party's top White House contenders.
In an e-mail to supporters, he said it was "critical that we address our nation's challenges through the core ideals of self-governance, free markets, and the rule of law."
But Thompson's absence from the New Hampshire debate on Fox News made him the butt of jokes by opponents.
"Maybe we're up past his bedtime," quipped Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
"The people of New Hampshire expect to see you," McCain added. "They expect to see you a lot."
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas said he had given up his own spot on "The Tonight Show" because "I'd rather be in New Hampshire with these fine people."
On the Burbank stage with Leno, Thompson played down his decision to skip the forum in New Hampshire. "Well have an opportunity to debate a lot," he said under kid-glove questioning from Leno. "We'll do our fair share."
With no disrespect to New Hampshire, he quipped, it is "a lot more difficult to get on the Tonight Show than appear in a presidential debate." The crowd roared its affirmation.
Some New Hampshire Republicans were miffed. Fergus Cullen, chairman of the state party, expressed disappointment that Thompson was "trading jokes" on the Leno show while opponents debated in New Hampshire. "I just think [he's] sending the wrong message to New Hampshire voters," Cullen said.
From Burbank, Thompson was to fly to Iowa to launch a five-day "announcement tour" that includes a weekend swing through New Hampshire. It concludes Monday in South Carolina.
For months, polls have found Republicans less pleased than Democrats with their candidate lineup. Social conservatives have been especially uneasy with the candidates' mixed records on abortion, guns and immigration.
"The opening is there to be the consensus conservative," said Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio, who is not working for any candiate in the primaries. "The question is, can [Thompson] step into that, can he make that a reality?"
His leading opponents, former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, have faced troubles explaining liberal and moderate stands they once took in their home states, particularly on abortion. Thompson has portrayed himself more consistent on conservative dogma.
But Thompson faces questions of his own. In the 1990s, he was a paid lobbyist for a family-planning group that was seeking to ease restrictions on abortion counseling. He also has written on candidate questionnaires that abortion should be legal in the first three months of pregnancy and, in general, should not be criminalized.
As a senator from 1994 to 2003, he voted along anti-abortion lines. This year, he has repeatedly called for reversal of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
michael.finnegan@latimes.com
mark.barabak@latimes.com
