FDT?

Fred Dalton Thompson will run for president, Politico reports:

Thompson is planning to enter the presidential race over the Fourth of July holiday, announcing that week that he has already raised several million dollars and is being backed by insiders from the past three Republican administrations, Thompson advisers told The Politico.

Thompson, the "Law and Order" star and former U.S. senator from Tennessee, has been publicly coy, even as people close to him have been furiously preparing for a late entry into the wide-open contest. But the advisers said Thompson dropped all pretenses on Tuesday afternoon during a conference call with more than 100 potential donors, each of whom was urged to raise about $50,000.

RCP's polling summary currently puts the undeclared Thompson at 10%, tied with Romney and behind McCain (18.2%) and Giuliani (26%).

The 4th of July is one of the slowest media days of the year, so he'll get massive coverage ... with few watching. But if he comes out with a hefty campaign chest and the right note to his announcement, the polling numbers should shuffle quickly.

Me? Undeclared. I'm not a McCain guy by any stretch and Giuliani's lack of federal experience and social liberalism scare me. Thompson poses a powerful alternative to Romney, so I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the campaigning right up to when I tap the tube in the voting booth in the California primary.

hat-tip: Real Clear Politics