More on Fred's candidacy...

With respect to Fred's announcement today that he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2004, Bill Pascoe, who among other things worked on the Diana Irey campaign to try to unseat John Murtha, says:

"It doesn't take too much reading of the tea leaves to recognize that his acknowledgement is a house-cleaning on his part," Pascoe said. "I take that as a sign that he's gearing up to run. Why else would he choose to reveal that?" Pascoe said it's not too late for Thompson to get in the race, calling him "very Reagan-esque in a party looking for a 21st-century Reagan."

Look for much more of Fred Thompson in the not-too-distant future:

He has a slew of high-profile appearances coming up. On April 18, he is to meet privately with House Republicans interested in his candidacy. On May 4, he is slated to speak to the Lincoln Club of Orange County, Calif., one of the largest Republican organizations in the country.

The Politico has learned Thompson is likely to appear the night before the dinner on NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno." In May, HBO Films will debut "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," featuring Thompson playing President Ulysses S. Grant, complete with Oval Office scenes. The film has a large promotional budget, a source said.

And the juggernaut rolls on!