From Politico.com:

Fred Dalton Thompson is planning to enter the presidential race over the Fourth of July holiday, announcing that week that he has already raised several million dollars and is being backed by insiders from the past three Republican administrations, Thompson advisers told The Politico.

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Thompson’s formal announcement is planned for Nashville. Organizers say the red pickup truck that was a hallmark of Thompson’s first Senate race will begin showing up in Iowa and New Hampshire as an emblem of what they consider his folksy, populist appeal.

A testing-the-waters committee is to be formed June 4 so Thompson can start raising money, and staffers will go on the payroll in early June, the organizers said. A policy team has been formed, but remains under wraps.

If Fred Thompson declares his candidacy, I guarantee he will shake up the GOP status quo. What’s impressive to me is that if Fred declares, the GOP may finally field a candidate who is a champion of the constitution, federalism, and states rights.

A couple videos giving a brief overview of Thompson’s political leanings: