Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson formally announced a future launch of a committee to explore a run for President in 2008.
Thompson said the exploratory committee would start gauging support in a run to the White House early next year. The Republican, who served as the health and human services secretary in President Bush's first term, made this announcement Wednesday at a health wellness event in Iowa.
Because Iowa is where the nomination process for president begins, UW-Madison political science professor Donald Downs said this was a ""strategic and symbolic"" move, showing respect for the state and a serious intention to run.
Craig Nolen, second vice chair of the UW-Madison College Republicans, said the committee will ""test the water"" and see if the highly successful former governor and health-care advocate should make a run for the White House.
Fellow Republicans, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have also announced their plans to run in '08 and both are forming committees. Downs said the popularity of Giuliani and McCain extends beyond the Midwest, and they have greater name recognition.
Nolen agreed with Downs and said McCain and Giuliani's popularity will allow them to raise more campaign contributions than the Wisconsinite.
""Tommy Thompson does have some national recognition. He was one of the top candidates for vice president in 1996, which does give him a little bit of street credibility,"" Nolen said. ""But he'll have to campaign a lot harder than Giuliani and McCain in order to raise funds.""
Downs said Thompson's Midwestern roots and popularity in the breadbasket could make him a strong candidate for the vice president again in 2008.
Because Giuliani and McCain both come from the East and West Coasts of the country, Downs said Thompson could balance the ticket.
