Which One of These Doesn't Belong?

In the months leading up to Fred Thompson's "late" entry into the 2008 race, the question on everyone's mind -- or at least, my mind -- was whether the lawyer-actor-senator-lobbyist could topple king Rudy from his red white and blue throne. Now, over a month after Thompson's official announcement, the answer seems to be a timid no. Despite all the premature comparisons, Fred Thompson just isn't shaping up to be another Ronald Reagan.

Heck, he isn't even shaping up to be another Gerald Ford. With all due respect, Fred appears to completely lack the ability to fire up the conservative base -- an ability that many thought would be his greatest asset. The warning signs were in plain sight long before his announcement: there was the story about Fred's lobbying work for a pro-abortion group, rumors about his wife's controlling behavior, Dr. Dobson's "I don't think he's a Christian" diss, and faint rumblings about his lifestyle during his single days on capital hill. By the time Thompson broke the news that everyone had been expecting on Jay Leno, his embryonic candidacy had already lost a considerable amount of luster.

Still, hundreds of candidates with far heavier loads of personal baggage have managed to cruise to victory. Generally speaking, Americans are willing to overlook a few minor inconsistencies, as long as those inconsistencies are paired with a healthy dose of charisma. Sadly, Thompson has been consistently striking out in the charisma department. The title of a WORLD magazine profile of Fred Thompson was a typical assessment of Thompson's star power in action: "Blah and Order". Thompson obviously expected that his low key, down-to-earth persona would appeal to so-called "common sense conservatives". So far, it appears that he was terribly mistaken. Fred's notoriously bland stump speeches have left eager audiences all across the country disappointed and disillusioned with the man that many thought would be the savior of the conservative movement. In the post-Bush era, it will take more than vague, folksy American-isms to energize the Republican party.

None of this is to say that Fred Thompson won't be a major factor in the primary race. The latest poll numbers place Thompson solidly in second with 23% to Giuliani's 30%, a respectable chunk of the electorate by any measure. But in order to surpass -- not just threaten -- Giuliani, Thompson needs a little something called momentum, a commodity he seems to be sorely lacking.

What should the Thompson campaign do to remedy the situation? Well, I may not have a degree in public relations, but here's just one teensy little tip that I would like to offer Fred for absolutely no charge:

SMILE.

When you're running for president, having a face that constantly says "I've come to loot your churches, slaughter your cattle, steal your womenfolk, and send your children into bondage" isn't a good thing. Just a thought.