YOUR COMMENTS

Free ride Freddy, should be in the Debate if he announces before. Next election should have a cutoff date to get in the race. Newt should not be allowed to wait till October.
Yes, Massachusetts folks are so intelligent to elect Deval to hike new gas taxes on them to pay for bridges. Do you think the hudreds of NH border towns with many thousands of residents will buy gas in Mass. We will call it the drive thru state.
- Ed Hale, Plaistow

As a former Tennessean who lived in Mr. Thompson's district and helped elect him to Congress, I would say that he and his team are brilliant in the manner they are conducting themselves. Simply look at all the FREEEEE! press and publicity he is recieving while the spotlight continues to be on him and that's right he hasn't even declared his candidacy yet! The other candidates would die for this kind of coverage and in the advertising world this is priceless! Could anyone tease the media any more than him. Fred Thompson and his staff know exactly what they are doing and I believe will be successful in achieving the Republican nomination for president in 2008! He will definitely have my support!
- David Ivy, Russellville, AR

At this point it'll be the night before the Iowa caucuses and journalists will still be pondering: "Will Fred Thompson get into this race?"

A certain amount of deferring builds tension. Deferring too long just makes your announcement anti-climactic.
- Erik W., Bowie, MD

Who's to say what the timing of announcing your run for Presidency? The Union Leader Editorial Board, The NH GOP, Thompson's political advisors or even Thompson himself!? JFK didn't even start to seriously run as a candidate until January 1960. These campaigns are too long to begin with and maybe the next President hasn't even announced yet and won't let's say not until Sept., Oct or maybe not until the New Year! Go Newt Go!
- Tom, Norwalk, CT

A unique idea perhaps, - but why not let him run his own campaign?
- John, Nashua, N.H.

Who cares about Thomson or any of the other carbon-copy Republicans. We need Ron Paul, and we need him now.
- Jason, Portsmouth

I don't think the Union Leader has ever given sound advice to hopeful republicans seeking the Whitehouse. And I think this is another example of news to ignore. I disagree with thearticle. It's clearly an advantage for him to stay out of NH -- while morons like Edwards, Obama, and Clinton talk like idiots. Today Edwards suggested Americans give up SUVs--I'm sure my Union Uncles at Ford and VH Steel would disagree completely. Democrats are self-destructing. The longer he stays out the longer the morons have center stage ... and that's better for republicans.
- NickDaytona, Daytona Beach, FL

Don't give a hoot about Thompson. I WANT DUNCAN HUNTER. Anyone but Romney, anyone!
- Debra, Chelsea, MA

Why is the media deciding things for the voters? Thompson gains nothing standing up there like a dolt giving a 20 second bumper sticker answer to a canned question. is THAT what this process has devolved into?
- J Lokey, Woodbridge, VA

Fred "needs" to announce? Maybe. I'd like it if he would. And, I'd love to see him in the NH debate. But the claim that he "needs" to be in the debate is just a lot of self-serving NH ego-driven blather.

What he "needs" is not necessarily what the NH ego "needs."

He's done pretty well with his big tease non-official candidacy. Maybe it's now played-out and the drag is not worth the benefits. But then again, maybe the benefits still outweight the drag. I think I'll trust his campaign strategy judgment rather than all the "experts" who only know the way it HAS been done so far.

That particular "expert" approved strategy doesn't always work out so well. Just ask Tommy Thompson or any number of other guys -- like Kucinich....
- Dave Guy, Kew Gardens, NY

Even though I'm from NH, I used to think every state should have the chance to host the first primary. Recently, I heard the best reason to keep it in NH. If you're an indvidual that can't afford to run an expensive campaign, large states are prohibitive in terms of getting your message out. NH's demographics make it an ideal place for politicians, well financed or not, to get their message out.
- Tom, Amherst,NH

Perhaps Thompson is not a moron like the pathetic candidates both parties are offering to date. He may know these jokers who participate in the so called debates are doing nothing more than boring us to death with their same old rhetoric. the dnc and rnc should hang their respective heads in shame for not giving us debates with moderators who are so biased, especially the democratic love fests. Both parties are still unaware that Bush is not running(thank GOD)
- Pappy, Las Vegas

I guess this goes to your point of being noticed and getting respect, but I believe a good percentage of Americans couldn't even identify New Hampshire on a map.
I know its somewhere in New England... so my point for both sides:
1) It would be a great way to educate Americans on your state.
2) Sen Thompson might be better served to set his entrance on a different stage than an unfamiliar NH in a traditionally liberal New England.

Just one Southerners opinion
- Charlie, Durham, NC

Some how, some way Fred Thompson must learn to speak with a fire in his gut. James Carville would be a great coach.
- Bob Beamer, Milton-Freewatwer, OR

I'm happy he hasn't jumped in with everyone else. People are so anxious for a change that this election's debacle started too early. I admire Fred Thomson's prudence. It may be a harbinger of what a fine leader he could make, but I will reserve my judgment until things unfold and I suggest others do the same.
- John M, Boise, ID

RA-It is equal representation. New Hampshire has a very small amount ofvotes in the nomination process. Also, Why should New York, Texas, and California decide who we get to vote for?
- Joe, Rindge, NH

Is it possible that his campaign manager wife advised him that the debate was not prudent?
- Lisa, Dixville

The same folks who are predicting Thompson's doom if he doesn't make these debates are the same folks who said he'd never raise enough cash if he didn't jump in with everyone else. The same who said he would lose too much support if he waited till June. The same who said voters would doubt his commitment if he didn't announce by July 4th. Every month we've heard an assemblage of talking heads saying Fred is doomed if he doesn't act in accordance with what they would do. And every month the drop-dead date moves back, yet Fred's approval ratings keep him at #2. Fred may be a lot of things, but he's no idiot. He has a plan, he's sticking to it, and he's going to win.
- Bruzilla, Jacksonville, Florida

The Florida mess ought to wake you up- The DNC is threatening to not allow Fla's delegates to vote in the convention. You see what this tells you!? Primaries are NOT government, they are PARTY. They can do anything they want.

The COUNTRY believes the parties have this power, so they DO have it. Just simply stop listening to what the parties say, they have no power.

If it best helps Fred to wait for the convention to announce, then more power to him. I fail to see what he gains from being one of those losers.

Run Fred, RUN!
- Idahoser, Memphis TN

RA, sounds like petty jealousy. The perceived "totalitarian" power is more imagined than real as political value goes. Check out wikipedia for a brief history of the Iowa Caucus. Further, Iowans don't consider Iowa a 2-bit state and are put off by the arrogance and self-obsessiveness of some residents of more populated states that feel entitled to some higher stature. Respectfully, Mike in Iowa.
- Mike F., Des Moines

I don't understand why a tiny, insignificant state like New Hampshire thinks it should have the power to tell a prospective candidate when to get into the race. With the way polls are already showing that people are tired of the election coverage starting too early I think Fred is smart to stay out of it. If I were him I wouldn't announce for as long as I could get away with it.
- Greg, Providence, RI

To RA, CINCINATI
Two bit states? Why not just have California and New York decide that way we don't have to bother with the 48 other "two bit" states. New Hampshire, totalitarians?. Your ignorance shows! I would classify us as more libertarian leaning. Try a visit you might change your mind.
- RS, DEERING, NH

New Hampshire and Iowa have WAY too much say in the presidential election. Why not have EVERY state have their primaries the same day?? Why have IOWA and NEW HAMPSHIRE so much say in the matter?? Time to change the system......PRONTO. I've seen enough politicians flipping pancakes and sucking up to New Hampshire voters to last me a lifetime!!!
- Mike Kujawski, Southbridge/Massachusetts

Thompson who? Why do I want to hear from someone skirting the official campaign process for as long as possible? He can stay away from the debate as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather hear new ideas from Ron Paul then rehashed Neo Conservative canned speeches. Thompson isn't a credible candidate in my opinion unless you like the status quo.
- SS, Dexter, MI

Fred Thompson needs to get in a.s.a.p. or else the money dries up., the support goes to other rivals and the seriousness of his candidacy is lost. Also, the notion that the Portland and Cincinnati posters bring up about regional primaries is ridiculous. Once we start moving to primaries in larger states, this effectively removes any and all dissenting voices from what the main stream media seems as a viable candidate. It also ensures that the candidates with the most money win.
- D Pinard, Manchester, NH

The majority of the American people aren't even paying attention to the Presidential campaign yet, and don't want two years or Presidential election politics. The way it used to be was working fine, and enough politics for the majority of Americans. So to try and push Fred Thompson into something this early, which is a historical anomaly is ridiculous. Traditionally, the candidates did not even announce until after Labor Day in the year before the election year.
- JS, Westminster, MD

If he was really serious about running, he would show uo to the September 5th debate!
- Fred, nashua

Most of the unease is in the other camps and not the Thompson camp as to if he will participate in this debate. Fred knows if he will or if he will not and will be prepared in either case.
- Ken Menzies, Longwood

Sooner rather than later-America will wake up and instead of the current antiquated presidential election process-and institute a national primary system of four regional primaries.
Such primaries will be held one week apart from each other. So in a period of one month-voters-will know who is the nominee of the respective national primaries. So-called third parties would participate in national primaries held of their own registered voters. This is just the beginning of a safe and sane election law reform here in America.
- Glen W Livingston, Portland

This is exactly the reason why we need to divide the states into four groups. Then cycle each group through the first voting date. Equal representation anyone.

Two bit states like NH and Iowa have way too much power. Its time to strip these totalitarians of their power.
- RA, Cincinnati

What a clear headed, mature and sensible article. How come we don't have any people who can think like this in Massachusetts?
- AEK, Holland, MA