Who: Senator Fred Thompson

What: Key Note Speech

Where: Lincoln Club Dinner, Orange County, California

Date: Friday, May 4, 2007

Time: 11:30 p.m. est

Coverage: C-SPAN will cover the speech live!

I think we all know Fred's going to run by now, just waiting for the formal announcement.  Obviously, he timed this to coincide with last night's Republican debate at the Reagan Library.  He's kind of doing the same thing Gingrich is doing, advertising himself and putting his ideas out there without formally announcing a candidacy.  As John Fund of OpinionJournal.com said this week:

     "Everyone agrees on the negatives of being a noncandidate. Rivals scoop up cash, campaign talent and endorsements while noncandidates sit and wait. But for the already well-known, there are advantages to being "outside the ring." While official candidates are scrutinized relentlessly for gaffes and battered by "independent" opposition groups, noncandidates can be selective in their media exposure and appear high-minded."

Also, the Wall Street Journal Report will be talking about Fred Thompson this Saturday.  The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time and again Sunday at 6 a.m.

And of course, Fred's columns can be found here on Townhall.com at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/FredThompson/