Tommy Thompson to form 2008 exploratory committee

This news comes as a shocker to me--former Wisconsin Governor and Health & Human Services Director Tommy Thompson, a Republican, is forming an exploratory committee for a possible 2008 presidential run. He was considered presidential material in the 1990s, but his star dimmed because of his uneven handling of the 2001 anthrax crisis.

While governor, Thompson developed a reputation as a first-rate welfare reformer, but he seemed overmatched by the challenge of the anthrax attacks while heading HHS.

Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), a doctor, was the congressional spokesman on those attacks, and his status rose and Thompson's sank as Frist emerged as a more credible source of information during that unhappy autumn of 2001.

Frist, who's been quiet lately, is believed to be considering a presidential run as well.

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