Schneider: Too late to get into the '08 race?

Story Highlights

• Without major name recognition, a run in '08 might be a stretch
• Newt Gingrich, Al Gore, Fred Thompson mentioned as "sleeper" candidates
• Strategist says money, expertise available to star names
• Both parties looking for a winner of the White House in 2008

By Bill Schneider
CNN Senior Political Analyst

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Bill Clinton got into the race in October 1991. George W. Bush in June 1999. This time things are happening a lot earlier.

Is it too late for a sleeper candidate to get into the presidential race?

"If they're sleeping they better get awake real quick," the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, Katon Dawson, says. "This process will be over this time next year and there's only a couple of weeks left for people to get in and put organizations on the ground, finance teams in place, media teams in place."

It might not be a problem for well-known figures like former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tennessee. "I've certainly seen a lot of excitement for Sen. Thompson," Dawson says.

Thompson is a TV star. No problem with recognition, says uncommitted Republican strategist Rich Galen.

"More people will watch Fred Thompson every week on "Law and Order," 20 or 25 million if you include all the versions of it, than will vote in total in the primary season," Galen said.

And don't forget Newt Gingrich. He also has name recognition and a following.

So does Al Gore -- and an Oscar-winning movie besides. But is there money out there for a new candidate? Sure.

You can only give $2,300 to a candidate. But you can give to more than one candidate. "For most people who are in the position to give 2,300 bucks," says Galen, "they can write another check for $2,300."

What about talent? Could a new candidate still hire good consultants and strategists? You bet.

"Perfect example -- Ari Fleischer," Galen points out, "He started out as Elizabeth Dole's press secretary. When her campaign floundered and she went out of business, in essence the Bush campaign picked him up as its spokesman, and he ended up the White House spokesman. Consultants are, in essence, fungible."

But with 10 Republicans and seven Democrats already in the race, is there a market for more candidates?

Right now, only about a third of Republicans and Democrats favor the frontrunners in their parties, Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton. Many polls have shown Al Gore running third among Democrats. And Gingrich or Thompson third among Republicans. Looks like voters are open to new choices.

Especially Republicans. In a poll last month by The New York Times and CBS News, 57 percent of Republicans said they wanted more choices, while 57 percent of Democrats said they were satisfied with the choices they have now.

Dan Balz of the Washington Post calls it "an indication of the enthusiasm of the Democrats.''

"If you have been in Iowa or New Hampshire since the midterm election, what you get is a sense of hunger and anticipation,'' Balz said. "Democrats would like to have the 2008 elections held tomorrow if they could do it."

Are Republicans unhappy because their leading candidates are not conservative enough? Galen doesn't think that's the problem. "My sense is that it's not so much an ideological fight as it is an argument over who can win this thing," the Republican strategist says.

This time, it may not be about ideological litmus-testing in either party. More likely, it will be about finding a winner.

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