It’s also the last day of Fred Thompson’s campaign. The former Tennessee Senator told a reporter yesterday that he’s “not particularly interested in running for president.” He added that he still thinks he’d be a good president.

Meaning: I want to be president, I just don’t want to have to go through all of the mishegaas to get there.

He’s not the only candidate who dislikes the rubber chicken, the roadside motels, the 20 hour days, endless road trips, naps enforced on an airplane, the colds, the sleep deprivation, and the gaffes caught for eternity on YouTube of the campaign trail. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani also believes he’d be a great president (and he’s probably right), but you get the sense he doesn’t particularly enjoy the trail. Former Senator John Edwards has campaigned hard in Iowa, but he’s lived there for four years and hasn’t spent that much time schlepping elsewhere, except for South Carolina.

And a possible major Independent candidate, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will wait until after Super Tuesday on February 5 to see if there is an opening for him. With $1 billion in personal fortune at his disposal, he can afford to wait. And lucky him–he’d like to be president too, but would rather not drag himself through the wringer of the campaign trail.

Those who relish the trail–or who at least put up with it well because they so desperately want the prize—are the ones whom voters will reward:  John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama.

Voters want to know that you WANT the job. Badly. That you are willing to work hard for their votes. A lazy campaigner means a lazy president. We can’t afford that.

On this last day of 2007, the candidates who are working hard for votes can raise a hopeful glass at midnight. Those who haven’t worked hard, well…I just hope Fred Thompson kept his SAG card.

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