Thompson's Revelation Hints at a Run

April 11, 2007 — -- Former Sen. Fred Thompson's decision to reveal Wednesday that he'd been diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago is a sign that he is serious about jumping into the 2008 presidential race, said his top cheerleader on Capitol Hill.

"If you weren't considering running, this would not be necessary," Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., told ABC News. "If you are really thinking about working hard to run for president, you let everything be known."

Wamp is hosting an April 18 meeting at the Capitol Hill Club between Thompson, a Tennessee Republican, and "at least" 40 House members who are interested in hearing from the former senator, "Law & Order" actor, and ABC News Radio host about his possible presidential bid.

Thompson Leaks Medical Condition on Own Terms

Thompson said Wednesday that his indolent lymphoma, which is currently in remission, was found during a physical exam 2½ years ago. Thompson added that if the cancer were to return, it would be very treatable, and his life expectancy "should not be affected."

Thompson's decision to publicly reveal his medical condition was seen as the right move politically, according to Republican Party chairmen in the key states of Iowa and South Carolina.

"I think it's a pre-emptive strike," Katon Dawson, the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, told ABC News. "In any campaign that I've ever run, any time I can get out the bad information first, I'm certainly going to try."

Ray Hoffman, the chairman of Iowa's Republican Party, agreed with Dawson that Thompson's move was politically shrewd.

"If it was me, that's what I would do," said Hoffman, referring to Thompson's public revelation. "Anything that might be a controversy, get it up front. Because most of the time, if it's not something illegal, or nothing really bad, it's going to work out."

Thompson: In or Out?

About a month ago, the Iowa Republican Party contacted Thompson's camp to gauge his interest in participating in Saturday's Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines, an event that will gather all the major Republican presidential hopefuls together for the first time this year for back-to-back speeches. A Thompson associate declined.

Dawson is still waiting to hear from Thompson to see if he will participate in a May 15 South Carolina Republican debate.

"They have not formally answered yet," said Dawson.

In order to participate in the South Carolina debate, one must not only register at 1 percent in the polls (a threshold that would not pose a problem for Thompson, said Dawson), but one must also have formed a presidential exploratory committee, a formal step that Thompson has not taken.

After his April 19 meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, Thompson's next big event is a May 4 appearance at the Lincoln Club of Orange County. The speech comes the day after all the announced Republican presidential candidates gather at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., for the year's first GOP debate.

If Thompson jumps into the presidential race, he will start well behind former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., when it comes to raising money and building a staff.

But one Republican strategist believes the late start would not pose as big of an obstacle to Thompson as it would to most politicians, because of his fame as a television and movie actor.

"More people watch Fred Thompson every week on one or more of the 'Law and Order' variants than will vote in total in the primaries next year," said Rich Galen, a former adviser to House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Galen believes Thompson would be wise to start making "courtesy calls" to the early nominating states but to wait to get formally into the race until after the Ames straw poll, which is scheduled for August.

Chuck Laudner, the executive director of Iowa's Republican Party, which sponsors the closely watched straw poll, told ABC News that Thompson has "drawn interest" and that there is "a lot of buzz out there anticipating that he might come to Iowa and test the waters".

He warned, however, that Thompson could not afford to wait until August to jump into the race.

"If you're not in by June," said Laudner, "I think it's too late. The straw poll in August is going to be an enormous test."