Blogger Claims Thompson Must Declare

Prolonged 'testing the water' status may violate election laws

By Heather McPherson, Newser User

Posted Aug 21, 2007 1:34 PM CDT

(Newser) – Fred Thompson’s continued undeclared status—even while headlining GOP dinners and glad-handing at the Iowa state fair—is beginning to raise hackles. Federal election law says non-candidates can't spend more than $5,000 on campaign activities; liberal blogger Lane Hudson has filed a complaint that charges the former senator is over the limit.

The advantage to non-candidate status, ABC's Jake Tapper explains, is that Thompson isn’t obligated to disclose his finances; if he waits until Sept. 6 to declare, he won’t have to name his funders until late January—after many states have held primaries. The election commission has challenged other politicians on the issue, fining Pat Robertson $25,000 in 1988 and settling with Al Sharpton in 2004.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Republican presidential hopeful, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson R-Tenn., holds a baby pig at the Iowa State Fair Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green) (Associated Press)

Fairgoers peer in through windows as Republican presidential hopeful, former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson R-Tenn., participates in a live radio broadcast at the Iowa State Fair Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, in Des... (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sen. Fred Thompson (KRT Photos)

(FILES)Former Senator Fred Thompson, (R-TN), smiles at the Washington... (Getty Images (by Event))

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Fred Thompson swivels in his chair to respond to an interview invitation from Michael Moore. (CaptainAmerica2006 (YouTube))

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Blogger Claims Thompson Must Declare