Is Thompson Secretly Working for McCain?

Here's a disturbing theory, that Fred Thompson has no real plans to run for president, but is going to act as a stalking horse for John McCain:

There is, however, another theory circulating about Thompson, one being floated by critics of the Tennessean. Some Republican insiders suspect that Thompson, who makes no effort to hide his close friendship with McCain, instead might be working a behind-the-scenes, McCain-orchestrated strategy to build support among conservatives for the Arizonan.

According to this theory, Thompson – who backed McCain in the 2000 presidential primary race – would build support and anticipation among conservatives for his own campaign, and then abruptly direct them instead to McCain's camp.

Sources note that Thompson and McCain had an extensive telephone conversation on March 9, just two days before Thompson discussed his presidential ambitions on "Fox News Sunday." And both camps have worked hard to keep the substance of that conversation private.

Whether or not he runs, Thompson might benefit McCain, if only because he appears to be slowing the momentum enjoyed recently by McCain's two main rivals, Giuliani and Romney, among conservatives.

In order to buy that whole idea you'd have to believe that conservatives are a bunch of sheep who can be easily steered by a favored candidate. That might have been true at one time, but it's going to take more than nice words from Thompson to cause conservatives to give McCain another look. He's burned so many bridges with the base that I'm not even sure the ghost of Ronald Reagan could turn them back his way.

I personally don't think this theory is true. If Thompson really thought he had a chance to win, I doubt he'd sit back and let that opportunity get away. He's also smart enough to know the level of dissatisfaction that exists with the current crop of candidates, and rather than try and help a cripple, he would probably enjoy the opportunity to ride to the rescue.