The Politico on a Thompson Run

Insiders Map Plan for '08 Thompson Bid

Fred Dalton Thompson was bored in the U.S. Senate and has had more fun playing District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law and Order.” Now, he’s a step closer to the ultimate audition: running for president of the United States.

Thompson sees a potential opening in the unsettled field of Republican hopefuls as a no-nonsense, charismatic conservative who would offer reassurance at a time when voters are craving security, according to the friends.

About the only factor that makes his candidacy plausible at this late date would be his celebrity and the deep dismay that conservatives feel about the current field. Thompson also would have to answer questions about a notable embarrassment from his Senate career – a failed four-month series of hearings on the Democratic campaign finance scandals that he conducted in 1997 as chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

One drawback? Like some other Republican candidates (Giuliani & McCain), Thompson is on his second marriage. So far Romney is the only prominent candidate in the field who has only been married to one woman.