2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

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Randy Enwright Named National Political Director for Friends of Fred Thompson

Randy Enwright Named National Political Director for Friends of Fred Thompson Committee

McLean, Va.—Randy Enwright, a Florida native and a veteran campaign and political operative, was officially named as the National Political Director for the Friends of Fred Thompson testing the waters committee.

“Randy has the background, skill set, and proven track record to help us move forward,” said former Senator Fred Thompson.  “He is one of the most respected political operatives in the nation and his understanding of grass-roots organizing is second to none.  We are very fortunate to have him on board and to have someone of his caliber leading our political activity.”

In addition to being a senior advisor to President George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, he was also a senior advisor to the re-election campaign of Florida Governor Jeb Bush in 2002.

Enwright worked for President George H. W. Bush as his Missouri campaign director in the 1987-88 presidential election.

Enwright’s political network and experience is broad and deep, according to the Thompson committee.  He has been regional political director for the RNC covering Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Iowa.

From 1989 to 1992, Enwright was the executive director of the Iowa Republican Party after a turn as political director of the Missouri GOP in the 1985-86 election cycle.

“I am honored to have been chosen to help direct the political portion of this effort,” Enwright said.  “Working with Fred is far more than just another political job; it is an opportunity to be an important part of a great team.”

Bill Lacy Named Thompson Committee Manager

Bill Lacy Named Thompson Committee Manager Former GOP, Presidential Campaign Strategist Joins Effort

Washington, D.C.—Former Reagan White House political aide Bill Lacy today was named manager of Fred Thompson’s testing the waters committee. 

“Bill Lacy worked in the campaigns of President Reagan, President Bush and Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole from 1980-1996,” Thompson said. “He turned around my campaign for Senate in 1994 and, as I move toward a decision on whether to run for President, I am confident he will take our operations to the next level.” 

Lacy will have full operational control of the Friends of Fred Thompson committee and will report directly to Thompson.

“It is an honor to be working with Fred again,” said Lacy, who is taking a leave of absence as Director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas. “My immediate goal to provide stable, hands-on leadership and to retool the Thompson operation to implement a non-traditional, message-driven effort.” 

Lacy was a GOP campaign professional in Washington from 1977-1996. He ran Ronald’s Reagan 1980 Maryland primary campaign, and served as Deputy Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee in 1981-82 before joining the White House staff as Deputy Director of Political Affairs. During Reagan’s reelection campaign in 1984 he was Political Director of the Republican National Committee and afterwards rejoined the White House as Director of the Office of Political Affairs.

Lacy held a senior role in Sen. Bob Dole’s 1988 campaign and served as Deputy National Chairman and strategist in Dole’s 1996 primary campaign. Lacy served as Thompson’s strategist and management consultant in his 1994 campaign until Thompson, down 20 points in the polls and written off by most of the pundits, persuaded Lacy to move to Nashville and take over day-to-day management of the campaign.

In 1996 Lacy assumed a senior management role in a privately held family business and in September 2004 was selected to be the Director of the Dole Institute of Politics.

“Every day at the Dole Institute I told students and others how important it is to get involved in politics, to take a greater interest in the affairs of our country,” Lacy said. “This is a tremendous opportunity to serve, an obligation in my view; I am honored that Fred Thompson has given me this chance.”

Thompson Highlights Economic Success Story

Thompson Highlights Economic Success Story

Washington, D.C.—Former Senator Fred Thompson pointed out the continuing strength of the U.S. economy in a commentary posted on his newly redesigned web site: www.imwithfred.com.

“The economic reality I'm talking about, and about which I've written on numerous occasions, is how well our country is doing economically thanks to the hard work of the American people, the innovation and competition our free market encourages, as well as the Bush tax cuts that helped spur 5½ years of economic growth,” said Thompson. 

The commentary noted more than 8 million jobs have been created, unemployment and inflation remain at historically low levels, and workers’ salaries have risen by $1.2 trillion over the last three years. 

“No matter how you slice this story, this economic record is one we should be proud of,” Thompson noted. “But America should not rest on these accomplishments, or abandon fiscal restraint and other commonsense principles like fighting inflation and keeping regulation to a minimum. Our economy looks great right now, but a rosy outlook isn’t going to pay the bills or ensure a strong economy.

“We need to make sure that America remains the most innovative economy in the world and the best place to invest, start a business, and create jobs.”

I'm With Fred Version 2.0 Launches

I'm With Fred Version 2.0 launched with this blog post.

Welcome to ImWithFred.com – Version 2.0.

As Fred is testing the waters, this site will be our resource for news, information, and ways to let him, and our friends, hear from us about a potential Fred Thompson candidacy.

For the past few weeks, we’ve used the tools on this site to recruit friends and share our thoughts about Fred. Now the site gives us greater capabilities. Beginning with our homepage, this site will now be your resource for Fred Thompson news and information, and to hear from Fred about the issues we face as a nation..

With the newly revised action center, we have even more ways to show Fred we think he’s the right man for the job. There are tools we’ve already been using – contribution and communications widgets for other web sites and blogs to utilize, to e-mails notifications for friends, and new tools, like options for organizing events in our communities, registering to vote, and making sure our friends are registered to vote, too.

We’ve even added a networking tool that will allow you to track - through your profile page - how successful you’ve been in recruiting Friends of Fred and building support for him.

Through the FredCast section we put you on site wherever Fred might be speaking from the road. In Principles, we can see and hear Fred speaking on a range of issues and the broad concepts that form the foundation of America and the values we share.

This site is all about continuing the national dialogue Fred started a few months ago, and doing it together. We hope you come back often and bring along a few new Friends of Fred each time.

Thompson Committee Launches New Website

Thompson Committee Launches New Website

Nashville, Tenn. -- The Fred Thompson testing the waters committee announced that it launched an upgrade and redesign of its website www.imwithfred.com today.

The website will allow Americans to show their support for a potential Fred Thompson presidential bid as he continues to travel the country.

The Friends of Fred Thompson committee has been a leader in using interactive tools to communicate with a fast-growing list of friends and supporters. The new website will build on those tools to create a community of Americans who share Thompson’s vision for America.
The newly revised action center creates more tools for web visitors to show their support for Thompson—tools such as organizing local community events, voter registration information, and ways to share information with friends and supporters.

The website also has a “FredCast” section that will let visitors experience Thompson’s public events and messages. In “Principles,” supporters will be able to hear Thompson speak on a range of issues that make up the core principles that are the foundation of our country. 

Thompson is enjoying a broad base of support all across the country. This website will allow even more Americans to learn about his experience and his values and sign up to join this dynamic and groundbreaking effort to urge Thompson to run for president.

Please visit the website by pointing your internet browser to: www.imwithfred.com

Thompson Committee Raises Millions in One Month

Thompson Committee Raises Millions in One Month

Nashville, Tenn. -- The Fred Thompson testing the waters committee reported it raised more than $3.4 million in one month from 9,167 donors, in financial information filed with the IRS today.

“The level of support and enthusiasm from people across this country is inspiring,” said former Senator Fred Thompson.  “It tells me that people are ready for a leader who will change the national attitude from political bickering to a shared vision for our future.  A leader who will bring us together, one who understands the challenges we face.”

The Friends of Fred Thompson’s Form 8872 disclosure report showed donations came from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 7,500 donors contributing online.  The total collected represents collections based on only two fundraisers, without direct mail or telephone support.

Total expenses for June were $625,746, with the largest single expense for Web hardware ($66,750).  This represents a “burn rate” of 18%.  Fundraisers and online donations have continued, as Senator Thompson tests the waters for a possible presidential campaign.

The Friends of Fred Thompson testing the waters committee was incorporated in Tennessee on June 1, 2007, and began operations as a 527 organization on June 4, 2007.  The Friends of Fred Thompson disclosure report, compiled pursuant to IRS regulations governing 527 organizations, details the committee's financial activities from its inception through June 30.

Relevant Statistics from the Financial Reports Filed by Friends of Fred Thompson

Time covered:                              June 1-30
Total Raised:                               $3,462,355.05
Total expenses:                           $625,745.97
Biggest Single Expense:              Web hardware $66,750
Payroll total (including taxes):       $106,852
Burn rate:                                    18.0%
Fundraising events included:          2
Number of donors:                        9,167
Avg. contribution:                         $369.87
Number of online donors:              7,534
Total online donations:                 $771,783
Number of donors under $200 (small donors):  6,888
Contributions came from 50 states and D.C.
No direct mail. No telephone solicitation.

Fred Thompson "I'm With Fred" Website Launched

The Fred Thompson "I'm With Fred" Website Launched with this message.
"Friends, your encouragement has me thinking we can change Washington and help America meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. We're entering a new phase of this process and we aren't going to do things the same old way." - Fred Thompson

USA Today Story On Fred Thompson's Plan To Run

Thompson wants to be 2008's outsider 
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

STAMFORD, Conn. — "Politician-turned-actor Fred Thompson has been coy with audiences as he flirts with a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

In an interview with USA TODAY, however, the former Tennessee senator not only makes it clear that he plans to run, he describes how he aims to do it. He's planning an unconventional campaign using blogs, video posts and other Internet innovations to reach voters repelled by politics-as-usual in both parties..."

FEC Information On Testing The Waters

Individual Tests the Waters

Before deciding to run for federal office, an individual may first want to “test the waters” — explore the feasibility of becoming a candidate.

An individual who spends money only to test the waters (but not to campaign for office) does not have to register as a candidate under the election law. (The threshold that triggers candidate status is discussed below.) Nevertheless, funds received and spent to test the waters are subject to the Act’s limits and prohibitions.2 Furthermore, financial records of testing-the-waters activities should be kept because, if the individual later becomes a candidate, the funds received and spent to test the waters will be considered contributions and expenditures. They will be reportable when the campaign files its first report. 11 CFR 100.72(a); 100.131(a); 101.3.

An individual may conduct a variety of testing-the-waters activities. Certain activities, however, indicate that an individual has decided to become a candidate and is no longer merely testing the waters. Under these circumstances, the testing-the-waters exemption would no longer apply. For example, the exemption does not apply if the individual:

• Raises funds in excess of amounts reasonably required for exploratory activity or amasses funds to be used after candidacy is established;
• Conducts activities over a protracted period of time or shortly before the election;
• Uses public political advertising to publicize his or her intention to campaign;
• Makes or authorizes statements that refer to him or her as a candidate; or
• Seeks ballot access. 11 CFR 100.72(b) and 100.131(b).