Fred Riding Into Race Sep 6

I had the pleasure of being in on the conference call where the announcement of when and how was made. Sep 15 in Lawrenceburg there will be a big "homecoming" event.

WASHINGTON - Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson will make the long-awaited announcement of his Republican presidential bid using an Internet Web cast next Thursday, his political director said Thursday.

Thompson will then travel to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina - key states in the nominating process - before ending his launch with a homecoming event in his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., on Sept. 15, according to a statement provided in behalf of Randy Enwright, Thompson’s national political director.

Thompson told his supporters of his plans during a 4 p.m. conference call.

Thompson, 65, is known more for his acting career, most recently as a star of the popular NBC series "Law & Order," than his eight-year stint as a senator and many more as a lobbyist and Washington, D.C., political operative.

Thompson shows up as No. 2 in most national polls behind former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, with strong organizations in Iowa and New Hampshire, and Sen. John McCain of Arizona are the other leading contenders in what will become a nine-member field.

But he has faced criticism in recent weeks, even from some supporters, for delaying his formal announcement and shuffling his staff as well as lower-than-expected fundraising.