While the declarded GOP contenders were slugging it out in early primary states, debates, and state fairs the former Senator tormented political reporters as his team “not so quietly” laid the ground work for a serious campaign for the Republican nomination.Pundits have declared that Thompson may be this cycle’s Wesley Clark. 

The difference is Team Thompson has put in months of work, although rocky at times, before the official announcement.  This campaign may become the textbook example for a candidate entering the race late in the cycle.  The major contenders on both sides announced their intentions early and went to work organizing, but the former Senator did not have the luxury of time to follow this model.  Instead, Thompson let the steps taken to organize his campaign serve as his notice of intent to run. The Thompson tease was more of a way to buy time to organize a campaign then an opportunity to search his soul whether to run or not.  This leads us to today, and the Tennessean’s much anticipated official campaign announcement.

The Thompson announcement was via a 15 minute webcast reportedly at the urging of Newt Gingrich. Not exactly groundbreaking, but the newly minted ‘official’ candidate has frequently utilized the ‘Net over the summer months. His strategy implies that he hopes to reach people directly instead of being filtered by the news media establishment. Using a fresh and more personal way of connecting with supporters online is characteristic of Thompson fashion.  For the past few months, although not officially in the race, Thompson has stayed visible by being active on the internet through numerous video casts and blogs. Fred08.com, the official campaign website, allows you to “connect” with Thompson through a number of different alternative media outlets including Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and Del.icio.us. He has utilized the ‘Net as his personal outlet to educate and stay connected to his supporters and potential voters.  The Internet is the ultimate organizing tool, and at this stage in the game it appears Thompson enjoys utilizing the Web as a major campaign tool.