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Fred Thompson Bid Faces Talent Shortage
Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson is considering a White House bid, but one of the problems he faces, is a shrinking pool of campaign professionals . Last fall, Nashville, Tenn. developer Ted Welch, who is believed to have raised more campaign money than anyone on Earth, committed his fundraising skills to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. For nearly four decades, Welch has been behind the scenes, at the sides of powerful republicans as one of the party's top fundraisers. Welch said he turned downed working for Arizona Senator and presidential hopeful John McCain when he went back on his word earlier this year to support Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander for Party Whip in the U.S. Senate.
Story Continues Below He said, "I called the senator up and told him I was very upset with him and he said, ‘Why Ted, why are you upset with me?’ and I said, ‘Well, you had committed to Lamar and then at the 12th hour you changed your mind.’” Other top Republican presidential candidates wanted Welch’s fundraising abilities, but Welch chose to go with former Massachusetts Gov. Romney. He said, "I think he's solid as a rock, solid as he can be.” Now, if Thompson decides to run, Welch will be working against his old friend and fellow Tennessean while fundraising for Romney. Welch said, "Well it will not be quandary, because I made a commitment I said I will support him and I am going to.” Fundraisers like Welch aren't the only thing Thompson might be lacking if he tosses his hat in the ring at this point. Vanderbilt Political Science Professor Dr. John Geer said, "I don't think fundraising is as much a concern as the kind of talent level that he can attract because many of the best and brightest are already signed up whether it be Romney such as Ted Welch has or McCain or Giuliani.” Despite that consideration, Geer thinks Thompson is instantly a frontrunner if he chooses to run. He said, "There’s is a recent poll out that that had him third and he has not campaigned at all.” Thompson has indicated he'll make a decision within a few months, but many, at least around Middle Tennessee, are urging him to do it sooner, rather than later. Thompson retired from the Senate in 2003, but has remained in the public eye with a recurring role in the TV series "Law and Order."
© 2007 Associated Press.
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