Sen. Fred Thompson has been a formidable presence in the presidential race so far–and mostly due to his (or more likely his team’s) media savvy. For instance, in announcing tonight his formal entry into the race, he is skipping a debate in New Hampshire in favor of a well-placed ad, an Internet event and an appearance on Jay Leno. Smart move. Senator Thompson knows what pundits are too vain to admit: a debate this far out from the election is wasted time. Worse than that, it is essentially an opportunity only to hold steady or lose ground. You don’t win over voters in these debates. You give political writers and professional arguers something to chew on among themselves. Senator Thompson’s going on Leno to make jokes and look smooth in front of a national audience of millions while Gov. Romney, Mayor Giuliani, Sen. McCain et al are going to parse yawn-inducing policy in front of a few thousand earnest wonks from the tenth-smallest state in the union. Think about the basis on which most people vote. Who’s the smart candidate here?

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