From the Examiner:

“There have been a million debates already and there are going to be a million more,” Harris said. “And people are going to see Fred Thompson out there, mixing it up with the other candidates, mixing it up with the media, engaging the voters. They are going to see months and months and months of that.”

In the meantime, Harris said, “it makes a lot of sense” for Thompson to appear on the Leno show instead of the GOP debate because the candidate will reach “everyday normal Americans who don’t live in the 202 area code.”

I 100% agree, people are not watching these debates and Mr. Thompson will get more in the short term from appearing on Leno than being lectured by Duncan Hunter on issues. As a whole his campaign is making the best impact message, put out a video, make some speeches, see the people and then go on television.

Here is the problem. People watch Leno and Letterman etc. a heck of a lot more than watch the debates. However Leno & Letterman etc. report on the debates, they make fun of them and hit the candidates hard when they mess up. The longer Thompson delays debating, the harder it becomes for him to build an impact being a “credible” candidate. The debates themselves, as two-hour long pieces of show, matter little. The aftermath, the soundbytes, the jokes, the perception are key.

The reason a candidate does so many debates where no one watches is so they can prepare for the debates that really matter and use their good performances to manage the news-cycle. They can work out their message, work out their ideas, learn how to take on their opponents, learn how to project and work out the kinks in their style. Debates are prep for the presidency because the moment they walk under the microscope of the office they will be debating 24/7 on every issue, every decision and every movement.

We’ve been reading about the magic of the Thompson campaign for months now. Journalists and pontificators have been speculating on his candidacy in pretty positive terms. If he doesn’t bring power to the actual candidacy those stories will soon fade and be replaced by speculation that his shine is dimming.