Fred Thompson's arrival on the scene
I was working at the Stratham Chili Fest, the site of Thompson's first NH appearance, but I was very distracted when Fred Thompson was speaking. I am writing my overall impression of him as a candidate. I thought his remarks were substantively strong but delivered in a less than inspiring manner. Unfortunately, in today's world you need to be not only right on the issues but able to communicate them in an effective manner. However, he is new to the campaign trail and I am certainly hopeful that I will have an opportunity to hear him again after he has done this a few times.
I also think that at least in New Hampshire he needs to present himself as a viable alternative candidate to the others who have been running all along. If he tries to position himself as the reluctant candidate who only jumped in at the last minute to save America he will never make it here.
Most Republicans I talk to feel very much the way I do at this point. . . with one or two exceptions ALL our candidates have so much more to offer than the Democrats that any one of them would be better than the Democratic alternative. While you could say that both parties always feel this way I would argue that this time feels a lot more urgent. The person who wins the Republican primary in New Hampshire will most likely win because the majority of voters pick him and NOT because they hated the other guys.