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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Thompson joins White House race | Thompson joins White House race |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Veteran Hollywood actor and ex-US Senator Fred Thompson has declared he is seeking the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential election. | |
| "I'm running for president of the United States," he announced in an appearance on a popular chat show. | |
| He joins eight other Republican candidates, including frontrunners Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney. | |
| The move came as the eight took part in a 90-minute televised debate in the key election state of New Hampshire. | |
| Mr Thompson made the widely anticipated announcement during a taped appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. | Mr Thompson made the widely anticipated announcement during a taped appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. |
| Sarcasm | |
| The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the former senator from Tennessee is enormously popular on the right of the party where he is seen as a new Ronald Reagan. | The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the former senator from Tennessee is enormously popular on the right of the party where he is seen as a new Ronald Reagan. |
| I was scheduled to be on Jay Leno tonight, but I gave up my spot to somebody else because I'd rather be here in New Hampshire Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee | I was scheduled to be on Jay Leno tonight, but I gave up my spot to somebody else because I'd rather be here in New Hampshire Former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee |
| He is known for his conservative views on issues like abortion and gun control. | He is known for his conservative views on issues like abortion and gun control. |
| But the 65-year-old is probably best known as an actor. | But the 65-year-old is probably best known as an actor. |
| He has played the president on screen, and is currently the district attorney in the popular TV series Law and Order. | He has played the president on screen, and is currently the district attorney in the popular TV series Law and Order. |
| The candidates taking part in the New Hampshire debate welcomed Mr Thompson to the race - but some derided his late entry into the race. | The candidates taking part in the New Hampshire debate welcomed Mr Thompson to the race - but some derided his late entry into the race. |
| "The only question I have for Senator Thompson is 'Why the hurry, why not take some more time off", Mr Romney said. | "The only question I have for Senator Thompson is 'Why the hurry, why not take some more time off", Mr Romney said. |
| "Maybe even January, February might be a better time to make a final decision about getting into this race." | "Maybe even January, February might be a better time to make a final decision about getting into this race." |
| Another candidate, Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said: "I was scheduled to be on Jay Leno tonight, but I gave up my spot to somebody else because I'd rather be here in New Hampshire." | Another candidate, Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said: "I was scheduled to be on Jay Leno tonight, but I gave up my spot to somebody else because I'd rather be here in New Hampshire." |
| Straw poll | Straw poll |
| The New Hampshire debate took place ahead of the release next week of a crucial report by the Bush administration on the Iraq war. | The New Hampshire debate took place ahead of the release next week of a crucial report by the Bush administration on the Iraq war. |
| Rudy Giuliani (L) and Mitt Romney are among the frontrunnersMost contenders defended President Bush's strategy of "surge" in Iraq and rejected calls for a quick withdrawal. | Rudy Giuliani (L) and Mitt Romney are among the frontrunnersMost contenders defended President Bush's strategy of "surge" in Iraq and rejected calls for a quick withdrawal. |
| Campaigning for the November 2008 election is expected to gather pace in the coming months. | Campaigning for the November 2008 election is expected to gather pace in the coming months. |
| The primary season, in which the parties in each state nominate their chosen candidate to run for president, will get under way in January. | The primary season, in which the parties in each state nominate their chosen candidate to run for president, will get under way in January. |
| Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is likely to want to build on his win in the Iowa straw poll in August, an indicator of strength in a crucial primary state. | Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is likely to want to build on his win in the Iowa straw poll in August, an indicator of strength in a crucial primary state. |
| Mr Giuliani, a former New York mayor who like Senator John McCain chose not to take part in the straw poll, continues to lead national polls. | Mr Giuliani, a former New York mayor who like Senator John McCain chose not to take part in the straw poll, continues to lead national polls. |
| Mr McCain was an early frontrunner, but his campaign faltered over the summer after disappointing fundraising figures and a shake-up of his operation. | Mr McCain was an early frontrunner, but his campaign faltered over the summer after disappointing fundraising figures and a shake-up of his operation. |