The groundswell is getting stronger for Fred Thompson - the Tennessee senator-turned-actor - to run for the Republican party's presidential nomination. Republican congressmen are coming out in support of the man who plays Law & Order district attorney Arthur Branch, including the exotically-named Zach Wamp, who declares that a Thompson candidacy is now a matter of when, not if.
Fred Thompson - not to be confused with Tommy Thompson, the former Wisconsin governor and homeland security secretary, who is also running for the Republican nomination - is a darling of the conservative right, with glowing profiles appearing in the Weekly Standard, the Republican house newsletter.
Much of the groundswell centres around his name recognition, having been in a few movies and appearing in a hit TV drama series certainly helps, and the perceived weaknesses of other candidates. Talk to Republicans in Washington and they look gloomy: McCain's a busted flush, Giuliani's too liberal, Romney's too lightweight (and a Mormon). The thought of Fred Thompson cheers them up.
Bloomberg reports representative Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican, saying: "People are thirsting for a leadership, for a candidate that checks all the boxes and Fred Thompson is that person.'" (On his website Miller describes himself as "one of the staunchest conservatives in the House.'')
In a poll earlier this month, social conservatives and religious voters - a powerful voting force in Republican politics - gave more support to Thompson than to any of the other Republican candidates.
