US:Actor-politician Fred Thompson made a dramatic late entry into the race for the Republican presidential nomination yesterday, pushing themes espoused by the late Ronald Reagan to try to generate excitement in his long-delayed campaign, writes Steve Hollandin Des Moines, Iowa
Mr Thompson (65) hoped to offer a fresh face in a Republican field that has failed to generate much excitement among party members, but some believed he was entering the November 2008 race too late.
After testing the waters for six months and twice shaking up his staff, the tall, folksy Tennessean has little time to try to increase his name recognition, raise money and overcome leading Republican rivals before the first voters troop to the polls in January.
Mr Thompson, a Hollywood actor whose face is familiar to millions of Americans and who has played presidents three times in movies, was criticised by rivals for launching his bid in a video on his website, www.Fred08.com, and in an appearance on NBC's The Tonight Showwith Jay Leno instead of at a debate on Wednesday night sponsored by the New Hampshire Republican Party.
Mr Thompson's video announcing his candidacy had many elements that had been the gospel of the hero of Republican conservatives, former president Reagan, such as a desire for low taxes and less government intervention.
In a subtle jab at two other Republican candidates accused of flip-flopping on key issues, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, Mr Thompson said he had held "the same common-sense conservative positions" throughout his political career.
"These principles made our country great and we should rededicate ourselves to them, not abandon them," he said.
Mr Giuliani leads national polls of the Republican field, and Mr Romney leads polls in the key early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. Mr Thompson is second or third in most polls.
Some analysts do not believe Mr Thompson's seeming desire to wear the Reagan mantle will work.
Stephen Hess of George Washington University said Reagan offered a far more optimistic presence than Mr Thompson. "I think the only thing they have in common is they were both actors, frankly," said Mr Hess.
In his video, Mr Thompson directed fire at Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton, a message seemingly aimed at generating enthusiasm among Republican primary voters who are loath to see the New York senator win the presidency.