Check it out at CBS.

Jonathan Martin at the Politico is reporting that another Fred Thompson staffer Tom Frechette is leaving. Frechette was effective serving as campaign manager Tom Collamore’s deputy but now that Collamore is out as campaign manager Freschette is moving on.

Both are reported to have had trouble dealing with the heavy influence of Thompson’s wife Jeri in the campaign.

Found via Wonkette

“I know the Democrats are getting all ready, they are measuring the drapes and getting the carpet all ready for how they are going to take over the White House, and I think they are going to get a big surprise,” Romney told a crowd gathered at a golf course. “America is not happy with how the war in Iraq is going, and is angry. But America is not about to take a sharp left turn and put somebody in the White House who would turn America into a European-type state.”

I actually think Romney has a point in there, its one I have been making for a bit on here. The country is ready for a “change” in leadership and are looking for alternatives. That doesn’t mean they are ready to start going completely to the left though. If anything I think the country is moving to the center with two extreme and highly organized flanks that will spent the next year annoying the daylights out of them.

Romney on the other hand should take some advice. He is courting the conservatives for the primary, I understand that. At the same time just as Democrats need to think “moderation” so do Republicans.

In my opinion every campaign manager out there should be reciting one single mantra “moderation”.

The buzz over the CNN/YouTube debate has quickly moved onto the Republican portion but as many online have found out, only Ron Paul & John McCain have signed up. So what about the rest of the candidates?

Marc Ambinder is reporting that Giuliani will most likely skip the debate entirely.

Meanwhile the New Hampshire Union Leader reports the following on Mitt Romney:

Republican Mitt Romney isn’t sure yet whether he’ll participate in the CNN/YouTube.com Republican debate in September, but he’s no fan of the format.

“I think the presidency ought to be held at a higher level than having to answer questions from a snowman,” he said in an interview yesterday.

techPresident is keeping an eye on he issue.

As I noted a bit ago reports are Fred Thompsons not yet a campaign, campaign, won’t meet fundraising expectations. Meanwhile the campaign manager stepped down the other day, Sam LeBlond nephew of George W. Bush stepped down today and rumors were flying earlier that Mary Matalin would be headed out (though it was later confirmed Meet Chris Cillizza she would be staying).

Chris highlighted the other things being rumored and talked about in regards to the Thompson campaign:

Our sense of the ongoing Thompson staff shuffle is that it is teetering on the brink of becoming just plain bad news. The sharks are circling and whispers about the too-prominent role of Thompson’s wife — Jeri — are everywhere. With news of every departure, the story tilts away from Thompson’s best interests.

The audience for this story remains largely confined within the Beltway for the moment, which is good for Thompson. But staff stirrings can lead to stories about disorganization, unhappiness and general disorder, and that is a narrative that does Thompson’s “campaign” no good, especially as he prepares to launch his bid formally sometime in the next month or so.