ssr, you may be right about Dick Morris' comments regarding "fire" and "tiger."
But you cannot dismiss the fact that Thompson's entry into the race is becoming dangerously late.
I'll repeat again what I said in threads regarding the governor's race in WI last year: studies have shown that, 95% of the time, the candidate with the most money wins. Thompson needs to get a money machine going soon, and kick it into high gear.
He also faces the Iraq issue. Next year, Republicans will have to either distance themselves from the Bush policy, or somehow explain how they would handle the war differently. (Yes, I know this is an obvious point, but I needed to repeat it in order to continue on about Thompson).
For Thompson to advocate that we finish the job in Iraq, he's going to need some foreign policy heavy-hitters behind him. It's not as though he's been heavily involved in foreign or military affairs.
All Hillary has to do is say that she was lied to. Given her experience in that area, the public will be inclined to believe her.
Thompson won't have any such luxuries.
However, if he can come across in the campaign as he did tonight, he has a real shot at winning.
His appeal is his straight talk, his genuineness, and his principles.
Reminds me of 1976, when Jimmy Carter won because of those very same perceived values.