A thriving dark horse; Doing well outside the usual Republican channels

More hints about July

"All right," Fred Thompson told a Connecticut Republican audience. "Let's get the announcement out of the way."

After a dramatic pause, the would-be presidential candidate declared: "Law & Order will return for an 18th season."

Thompson's teasing about an 08 campaign announcement could end soon. If reports out of his home base of Tennessee are accurate, he'll join the Republican contest in July.

Courtesy of Paul West at The Baltimore Sun