Watch the Best Political Team on TV discuss Fred Thompson's impending presidential candidacy.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson will officially announce his candidacy for president on the Web next Thursday, September 6, sources working on the actor's formal entry into the race told CNN Thursday.
The announcement video will be posted at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday at www.imwithfred.com.
The sources said Thompson would travel and campaign in key primary states following the Internet announcement.
The Web announcement will not take place before Wednesday's GOP debate in New Hampshire, the sources said, adding they did not expect Thompson to attend.
Early this week, the New Hampshire Union-Leader called on Thompson to attend the debate.
"If Thompson announces before the debate, New Hampshire voters will expect him to be at the University of New Hampshire with the other announced candidates," the newspaper said. "A no-show will be counted here as a snub.
"If Thompson waits until after the debate to make his announcement, it will appear to some as if he timed the announcement just to avoid the New Hampshire debate. That would give his foes the chance to say he is either not serious about running for the nomination or is too unprepared to be considered a credible candidate."
Thompson created a fundraising committee that allowed him to begin raising money for a possible presidential campaign on June 1.
An actor best known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch in NBC's "Law & Order," Thompson was elected to the Senate in 1994 and served there for eight years.
– CNN's John King and Candy Crowley
From CNN Politics
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Do you realize how ridiculous this is? The lazy, corrupt, loophole jumpin' idiot that is Fred is ANNOUNCING his announcement–and then you have CNN reporting this as a legitimate story. HAHAHAHA
It's about time.
But my god, what a JOKE.
No please don't! or do I really care.?
Seriously, WHAT A JOKE!
This guy acts like an actor, just doesn't show up on time and can't keep his finances in order
Wow, what good planning so he would not have to do the debate on the 5th. Wouldn't want the public to find out who he really is on the day he announces. Way to go FRED!!!
Vote RON PAUL 2008
It Great To Now Have Someone Worth Voting For!
Tom Dobbs has a better chance of being elected president that Thompson...especially if they use the Delacoy voting system again.
And, like a chicken, he has to announce his candiacy the day after a GOP debate.
This is just a car accident waiting to happen.
The Daily Show was right, he really does look like Frankenberry.
Thompson, the messiah for Republicans, cannot save the party! He is too old...
Dude's a wuss. He should have been sharing his ideas with the country for months with the rest of the candidates.
If he had any, that is.
This is what America needs: someone who is a trained liar! How are we going to know when he's acting and when he's not? I think in the long run, his is not going to have any effect on the outcome of the Presidential election past the primaries.
He is about as real as Arthur Branch. His announcement will add some legitimacy to the campaigns of John McCain and Ron Paul but will still leave me looking elsewhere.
A Republican who speaks clearly on issues like abortion and gay marriage will win the party nomination. Thompson is no dummy. I feel like Washington has come back from the grave....yee haaa!!!
I'm glad to hear he's joining the race. I cannot wait to see the expression on his when he loses miserably and then has a Female Democratic President to contend with.
Join in Fred ...Bring it on!..your so pompous.
Wow, actors running for president. The countries already in such bad shape, imagine what it would be like if he was our next Commander in Chief.
This is too funny Fred is making an announcement to announce the day when he will announce his consideration to announce his run for the Presidency,
sheesh buddy by the time you finish announcing the race will be over.
So if he becomes President how many announcement and postponement will he make for the State of the Union Address
Who's Fred Thompson? I'm voting for Ron Paul!!!!
In other "News that makes you go 'Duh'", your dog likes steak.
Mr. Thompson, whoever put THAT picture of you on a national news site must really dislike you. Terrible Picture!!
You deserve better than that.
Don't bother Fred!
You have no substance and your granddaughter, I mean wife, will never fly!
Been mighty underwhelming so far...
Finally he's coming out of the closet as an open Presidential candidate!
This is nothing but a lawyerly, legalistic, letter-of-the-law ploy to avoid having to reveal who is running and funding his campaign.
If Fred announces on Sept 6, he doesn't have to file any campaign finance reports until Jan 31, 2008, after at least seven primaries.
What a joke. The question every voter has to ask is WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?