The Late Arrivers

With the '08 race beginning so early, I think there's a good chance that the voters will get sick and tired of the current crop of candidates and will starting looking for something better come the fall. Three names are being bandied about: Newt Gingrich, Al Gore and Fred Thompson.

Dean Barnett discusses Gingrich and Gore here.

Captain Ed gives us some background on Fred Thomson here.

In my view, Gingrich and Gore don't have a prayer. Too much baggage on both of them. Thompson could be a very attractive candidate. He's been pretty consistently conservative, has a long history in politics and law, and is a pretty fair actor. His big stature, big voice and actor's ability to communicate make him a commanding presence - something that many voters might find attractive. He's not been considered as brutally partisan as many of the other candidates, and that could be important as the voters tire of the political wars.