Reagan Staffers back Fred Thompson

Michael Deaver (deputy CoS), Clark Judge (a speech writer), and Roger Stone (campaign strategist) all speak favorably about Fred Thompson over the other candidates. What is a bit surprising in that there is no US reporting on this yet.

Ronald Reagan's closest allies are throwing their weight behind the White House bid by the late president's fellow actor, Fred Thompson. ...As deputy chief of staff, Michael Deaver was a key member of the "troika" of aides who kept the Reagan White House on track. ...Mr Deaver sees the same raw material in Mr Thompson as was perceived in Ronald Reagan, describing him as someone "that could really make a difference". He added: "He is very popular in his party. He could change this whole thing and turn this primary system upside down.

[The Rest of the Story]

"As Ronald Reagan used to say, after he stole a line from Al Jolson, 'Stay tuned, you ain't seen nothing yet'."

Mr Deaver's intervention is significant. He is very close to Mr Reagan's widow, Nancy, and is seen as the keeper of the Reagan flame.

Clark Judge, a White House speechwriter for Mr Reagan, said: "Fred Thompson, like Ronald Reagan, is a man of tremendous substance. There is a sense in the party that none of the candidates is quite 'it'."

Mr Reagan, he said, had "embodied the mission of the party - entrepreneurial growth, limited government and a strong national defence. Whoever can bring that mission into this age will be the nominee. And it may be Fred Thompson." Roger Stone, who was a Reagan campaign strategist, said: "The president Americans want is, in fact, the guy they see on Law and Order: wise, thoughtful, deliberative, confident without the cockiness of George W Bush, urbane yet country. Fred Thompson communicates all those virtues."

Courtesy of Tim Shipman in Washington for the London Sunday Telegraph

I think maybe the reporter is perhaps overstating things, but it is interesting that those folks are behind Thompson. I wonder if Roger Stone is still active in campaign strategy? He seems to be hard-ball but effective.