Thompson Plays Himself as Everyman

Salon columnist parses the candidate's 'I'm just like you' campaign
By Josie Garthwaite,  Newser User
Posted Sep 10, 2007 4:57 PM CDT

Since officially entering the presidential race last week, Fred Thompson has pitched Iowans with a stump speech that portrays him as a regular guy who wants to send a message to “those folks in Washington.” Never mind that he’s a rich former senator, lobbyist and actor from McLean, Va., jibes Salon columnist Michael Scherer—people buy his act.

Scherer compares Thompson's campaign to those of Arnold Schwarzenegger and George W. Bush, who relied on personality over policy. As Scherer puts it: "Even Thompson's rivals have to admit that the guy sure knows how to play his own part, large, lumbering, world-weary and cigar smoking. Never mind the issues." (More Fred Thompson stories.)

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