From his TV show to radio pitches, Fred Thompson gets prime airtime
With his role on NBC's "Law & Order," a stint on Paul Harvey's radio show, and the buzz from his newly announced presidential aspirations, former senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee is getting a lot of air time these days.
But just when you thought he had saturated the airwaves, his voice has found another outlet in new radio ads.
They're not for his campaign, but for a company called LifeLock, an Arizona-based firm that protects customers from identity theft.
Beginning this week, Thompson's voice will grace 60-second ads for the company on radio networks nationwide. (The ads, which run through June, can be heard locally on WBZ radio.)
The first half of the ads salutes various military heroes; the second half is a pitch for the company.
Betsey Griffin, media director for Lavidge Co., LifeLock's ad agency, said Thompson agreed to do the radio spots because LifeLock has a special offer for servicemen and women deployed around the world.
"He felt like it was a good fit," she said.
A spokesman for Thompson did not return a call seeking comment.
The first-term senator also had kind words for one of Nevada's top industries -- gambling.
Nevada "has done a terrific job of regulating the industry. It has become a major growth engine, and I think other people from other states -- including my mother-in-law -- love to come here," Obama said in a brief interview with the Associated Press.
The candidate met with state lawmakers and campaigned in Nevada, which is second in the primary calendar lineup with caucuses on Jan. 19. He answered a few questions as he greeted patrons at the Comma Coffee shop.
Obama said that while other candidates such as Clinton have more early endorsements in the state, he will catch up with grass-roots support.
"One of the reasons I'm a US senator is that I got strong support from places like southern Illinois where it's about as rural and southern as you get," Obama said. "These are areas back in my home state that are pro gun, very religious, and with low minority populations -- and we have consistently done well because I think there is a set of common values that people share."
Coinciding with her trip to Nevada on Wednesday, Clinton unveiled a list of supporters in Nevada, including Bob Miller, former governor, and black community leaders.
Obama said he wasn't concerned about her endorsements.
"We're still getting known in Nevada. This is my third visit," Obama said. "So it's not surprising that Senator Clinton . . . is able to get some of the traditional endorsements."
"We're much more interested in making sure we're reaching out to the ordinary voters like this," he said, referring to the crowd of about 50 in the coffee shop. (AP)
Speaking to about 200 people in Sioux City, Romney said he wanted to highlight the differences between himself and Clinton, a leading contender for her party's presidential nomination.
"Her view is the old, classic, European caricature that we describe of big government, big taxation, welfare state," said the former Massachusetts governor.
"She gave a speech a couple of days ago and laid out her vision for America. And as I listened to her I figured her platform wouldn't even get her elected in France," Romney, who was a missionary in France, said to chuckles and applause.
In recent French elections, conservative Nicolas Sarkozy captured the presidency, defeating Ségolène Royal in her bid to become France's first female president.
Romney criticized Clinton's effort as first lady to enact universal health care and touted his success in passing a plan in Massachusetts. Although Romney won bipartisan praise for his state effort, he hasn't mentioned it much in his bid for president.
"The first difference is mine got passed and hers didn't," he said.
A Clinton campaign spokesman declined to respond to Romney's comments. (AP) 