The Fred Watch--Tuesday, Oct. 23

Republican Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson defended his campaigning practices on Monday amid criticism from the mainstream media and political operatives that perhaps the candidate is 'lazy.'

Thompson countered that he is running a campaign that flies in the face of 'conventional wisdom,' which is more often than not set by media types who wish to shape candidacies into a mold that they can then control.

Nothing doing, says Thompson. 'I will run my campaign the way I want to do it,' he quipped.

Indeed. Thompson cut short his remarks to a GOP gathering in Florida on Saturday and cancelled a scheduled news conference. Yet he hit the ground running during Sunday's GOP debate, during which he castigated both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani for their liberal records.

Thompson is a different kind of candidate for a different kind of era in politics. In today's climate it is unrealistic to expect candidates to do the New Hampshire-Iowa thing of back-slapping when other states hold primaries every bit as important, if not more so.

This is not to say that personal contact with the voters is not important. And Thompson emphasized that he has been to Florida four times in addition to multiple visits to other states.

Despite New Hampshire voters being miffed that Thompson has not been going door-to-door for weeks on end, he has visited New Hampshire, making personal contact in gun shops and local eateries.

Two points to keep in mind. One, perhaps Thompson is aware that too much useless talk to the media is a waste of time, thus making it possible for him to cancel news conferences when he thinks it is appropriate. Two, perhaps having a Presidential candidate who knows when to stop talking and leave the stage is a good thing. Heaven knows in politics we have had too much talk and not enough action.