Back from the Dead?

"Fred D. Thompson had one central strategic goal as he formally began his presidential campaign on Thursday: to win over conservatives who are disheartened at their current choice of Republican candidates by positioning himself as the ideological and stylistic heir of Ronald Reagan.

"Mr. Thompson is certainly conservative, and has been throughout his public life -- particularly on the question of federalism, the size of government, tax cuts and his unwavering support for the war in Iraq.

"Biographically and stylistically, Mr. Thompson, another former actor trying to become president, recalls the easygoing manner that Reagan used to advocate conservative solutions to the nation's challenges, as he made clear with his announcement speech in Des Moines on Thursday. He spoke of 'common-sense conservative beliefs,' including the notion that 'we still get our basic rights from God, not government.' "

Ah, but here the paper knocks down the premise:

"Yet in some notable ways, Mr. Thompson is different from Reagan . . . Mr. Thompson, the former senator from Tennessee, has at times voted in support of affirmative action, at other times against it; Reagan's Justice Department consistently championed efforts to eliminate it. Mr. Thompson, a former trial lawyer, has voted against efforts to impose federal caps on punitive damages and lawyers' fees, a central part of the conservative agenda."

Thompson wasn't exactly mobbed, says USA Today:

"Fourteen TV cameras jammed the press platform, but the 250 or so Iowa voters in attendance failed to fill the room. Their response to Thompson's conversational, rambling remarks was friendly but not frenzied."

The Chicago Tribune contains its excitement:

"In a speech notable for its lack of verve, Thompson said he has always believed in less regulation, free trade, a market economy and respect for private property rights . . .

"No one really knows what kind of candidate Thompson will be. His months of exploration and testing the waters were rocky, with repeated staff shake-ups, fundraising that fell short of projections and activists' complaints about speeches short on ideas. Republicans who know the former senator have accused him of laziness, a charge his allies rebut."

The Boston Globe underscores the Tennessean's challenge:

"Rival campaigns have already prepared thick dossiers of 'opposition research' chronicling the former Tennessee senator's zigzags on such key issues as abortion rights, immigration, a gay marriage ban, and campaign finance reform . . .