Fred Thompson (R-TN) made his unofficial candidacy for President official on Jay Leno, although the decision was telegraphed for months.

Thompson’s potential candidacy teased the Republican base and offered one more person to consider in a large field of wannabe Presidents. Nobody is too exciting, too charming or too qualified so Thompson’s late entrance will not harm him and will finally stabilize the potential voters when polls are taken and will place Thompson in the cross-hairs of the media and general public.

Thompson has the advantage of being a Southern Conservative in a party with a huge base consisting of Southern Conservatives.  In debates, Mr. Thompson will be up to the challenge and has Senatorial and legal experience; Thompson served as a U.S. attorney and Watergate investigator.

Thompson will have to lay out a solid set of issues to run on and he will have to back them up with knowledge and force. The photo-op sessions and short interviews are over with; Fred Thompson the candidate will now have let the public know what he stands for.

Looking at the GOP field today I would say Mitt Romney is the most qualified with executive experience as Governor of “blue state” Massachusetts, savior of the Utah Olympics and built a company known as Staples.

Thompson’s career will be used as a comparison to President Reagan but the Gipper had Executive experience as California’s most successful Governor, Thompson cannot match that experience coming into the campaign for President.

My prediction is Giuliani will fade slightly and the nomination race will be between Romney and Thompson. Mr. Romney has the forces in place and the money to back up a polished and extensive campaign. Thompson is unorganized, under funded but fairly well known to the public, primarily from his acting career on Law and Order.

If I were to choose who would be most formidable in a debate on real issues with Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama my money would be on Mitt Romney to impress the voting public hands down.

I’m not a betting man so let the real GOP campaign begin, we’ll be listening and watching carefully. This next election for President couldn’t be more important. An Obama or Clinton in the Whitehouse is unacceptable. Indeed!