Viewable Online Here
Former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson recently announced his 2008 presidential candidacy on “The Tonight Show,” directing viewers to his Web site for a more comprehensive video message.
Given the positive buzz his potential candidacy has generated, the announcement was not surprising.
The particular arena and method of the declaration was also unsurprising, as Thompson is a silver-screen veteran of over twenty years, with more than a dozen major films to his credit.
Despite entering the race later than any other candidate thus far, Thompson has easily had the most media exposure.
Most people know Thompson from his roles in “Die Hard 2” and “Law and Order” rather than his stint in Washington.
The notion that Thompson was hurt because of his late announcement strikes me as wrong-headed.
If Thompson is not elected, it won’t be because his campaign did not last long enough — it’s been going on for over twenty years.
In the last two decades, the former Senator from Tennessee has racked up a diverse array of movies and television shows that have garnered critical acclaim.
More importantly, they still remain popular with viewing audiences.
Many of the movies and television shows featuring Thompson, such as “Law and Order”, are still shown on T.V.
Those repeat showings guarantee that Thompson will enjoy continued exposure.
That free advertising exposure gives Thompson a formidable advantage over virtually every other candidate. It also makes Thompson very much a wild card in the election.
It is a foregone conclusion that in today’s political climate, media exposure is often the deciding factor in elections.
Being media-savvy can serve as an important catalyst in launching a candidate into the national limelight.
It was his electrifying and much-rebroadcast speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention that launched Senator Barack Obama’s transformation from a mere state senator to a national presidential contender.
In addition, Rudy Giuliani earned his often quoted “America’s Mayor” moniker from frequent media appearances during the days following 9/11.
The more media exposure a candidate gets, the more recognition and support he garners. That’s it, plain and simple.
Obama, Giuliani, Senator Hillary Clinton and all the other top-tier candidates understand this and continue to chase down every media outlet they can use.
In Thompson’s case, the media exposure comes with an unusual twist. Much of his media face time has come in the form of popular entertainment rather than news or politically-oriented programs.
This means that he can reach audiences that generally avoid or are not reached by traditional, politically-oriented media.
As a result Thompson has access to a potential support base his opponents have little chance of reaching.
The unique kind and frequency of his media exposure gives Thompson a lethal one-two punch.
Much like Arnold Schwarzenegger did in the California gubernatorial race, the Thompson campaign can leverage non-political popularity and fame to overcome much more established political figures.
Thompson also boasts several other qualities that appeal to both Republican and undecided voters.
He has had no major official position in the government since 2003. While he remains supportive of the Iraq invasion, that detachment distances him from the day-to-day events in Iraq and the surge.
Given the steadily increasing number of Americans dead and with no end in sight, his absence from the government may prove to be an advantage.
Thompson’s other attractive traits include his loyalty to traditionally conservative principles, such as states’ rights.
Deferring to the states’ rights platform will be an effective way for Thompson’s campaign to deflect potentially explosive discussion of hot-button issues.
Thompson has also overcome much adversity in his life. He recently beat cancer.
His self-made image, combined with his familiar, down-home appearance, may do much to woo disaffected voters from across the political spectrum.
Many others may vote for him simply because of name and face recognition, as Thompson’s media exposure over the last two decades stands unsurpassed, even in the company of media darlings such as Giuliani, Obama and Clinton.
Thompson is being touted as the GOP’s savior in 2008. This is hardly surprising given his widespread recognition, his distance from the current administration and his hard core conservative positions.
If they are to take back the White House, Democrats would do well to pay special attention to the former senator from Tennessee whose name seems to resonate on the screens of Hollywood as well as in the corridors of Washington.
No comments:
Post a Comment