My understanding is that there have been some real SNAFU moments with Thompson’s campaign, like him showing up to give a speech, and no one knowing he was coming and other similar missteps.
Color me sad, 
This leaves open the chance the party will move away from the right under Rudy. This would be a good thing for America and the Republican Party. It has moved far, far, too far, to the right.
I still think Rudy has a good chance against the front running Dems.
Jim
Thompson’s fundraising in June was two-thirds what his people expected. Thompson's initial fundraising falls bit short - ABC News
And he’s replaced his campaign manager (shades of John McCain). “The shake-up comes amid consternation inside the campaign about the active role played by Thompson’s wife, Jeri, a lawyer, media consultant and former Republican National Committee official,” which conjures memories of Hillary’s role in Clinton’s campaign and administration. A role most Republicans, IIRC, didn’t like though, like Libby Dole, Jeri Kehn Thompson has the advantage to them of not being a Democrat. Or Hillary.
I read an interesting article about Thompson the other day which said that he’s now losing ground on the same thing he was gaining it on before - his image. The specific issues are the abortion connection and his “trophy” wife. The article said that the actual problems are minor: Thompson’s lobbying work was actually pretty insignificant and his wife, while attractive and younger than him, is no bimbo. But the problem is that some people don’t look past the surface appearance - and these same people are Fred Thompson’s base.
Thompson’s “campaign” has been based primarily on the idea that he looks and sounds like a President - there’s not a lot of depth to it. And now he’s finding that the people who are attracted to a candidate because of his image will also walk away because of his image.
I agree with your last two sentences, but irrespective of what one thinks of Rudy or his chances, it’s hard for me to see him pulling the GOP noticeably further from the extremes.
First of all, with respect to anything related to national security, Rudy’s likely to be just as hard-right as Bush.
Second, where he and the base differ, I doubt he’s going to find the base amenable to being led, any more than Bush was able to persuade his base to stop hating immigrants from Latin America.
HOLYSHITGODDAMN!!! That does it, he’s got my vote. If I have to keep seeing some First Lady for the next few years, THAT’S the one I want to have to see.
Too bad that the funding level shows that he got in too late.