(Nashville, TN) -- Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander says his longtime associate Fred Thompson's bid for the Republican Presidential nomination is off to a tremendous start.
He notes that Thompson is already second and third in most national polls, even though he has yet to officially enter the race.
Thompson plans to formally announce his candidacy via webcast on Thursday.
He's the fourth Tennessean since 1980 to make a run for the White House.
Thompson's mentor, former Senator Howard Baker, sought the GOP nomination in 1980.
Alexander and former Vice President Al Gore each ran twice without success.
Gore won the Democratic Party nomination in 2002, but lost Tennessee, and the presidency, to George W. Bush.
As for Thompson, Alexander says if he can become organized enough to run a yearlong campaign, he has a good chance to become the Republican nominee and the President.
(Copyright 2007 by Newsroom Solutions/Regional News Service)