The Washington Post believes Fred Thompson has a campaign manager in waiting.

One wonders if the usual lefties will complain about his ties to Big Tobacco.

By the way, Friday night’s season finale of Law & Order – presumably, the last to feature Fred Thompson as a cast member – had a closing bit of dialogue that may be a bit of an in-joke about Thompson’s expected future plans. Thompson’s character, District Attorney Arthur Branch, had “benched” Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) for the closing argument in a high-profile murder case. (During their argument, I kept waiting for Waterston’s character to shout, “This is because I’m backing Unity08, isn’t it?”)

In the final scene, McCoy offers his resignation, but Branch refuses it.

Arthur Branch: Jack, some day this chair is going to be empty…
Jack McCoy: I’m no politician, Arthur.
Arthur Branch: You know, everybody says that…

I wouldn’t be surprised if McCoy became the new D.A. next season, and a younger, cheaper actor took the “lead” in Waterston’s role…