Thompson money machine shifts gear and picks up pace

Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) has hired a finance director for the Northeast and Midwestern regions, turbo-charging his money machine for a full-on bid for the White House.

The Hill has learned that Sarah Newman, now at the Washington lobbying firm of Cassidy and Associates, has been hired by Thompson’s campaign as one of its top regional finance directors.

Newman would not comment when contacted by The Hill. Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo said by e-mail that the campaign is still very much in exploratory mode, but has no announcements to make yet.

{mosads}“We are in the ‘testing the waters’ phase,” he said. “It allows us to raise some money and hire some staff so that Fred Thompson can do the things he needs to do to make that final decision.”

Thompson’s advisers have also been contacting other big-name Washington lobbyists to discuss having them make dramatic defections from other GOP candidates when the Tennessean officially announces that he is running.

“If he gets in, you’re going to see a lot of people jumping ship from different places,” said one lobbyist who is now supporting former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani but admits he is considering joining Team Thompson.

“It’s something that’s up in the air, but I would consider it,” the source said.

Another lobbyist told The Hill that some lobbyists who have been approached are supporting the candidacies of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. These lobbyists are seen as prospective converts because of concerns about Romney’s perceived weakness on social issues and on account of the perception that McCain’s campaign is struggling.

And the Thompson campaign is apparently ramping up its fundraising efforts following its initial effort, dubbed “First-time Founders,” which was charged with raising seed money to the tune of $4.6 million, as reported in The Hill.

Michael Curb, a prominent member of the recording industry and former California lieutenant governor, will host a fundraiser for Thompson at his Nashville home June 26, according to Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who is helping organize the event.

Blackburn said the event will probably rake in $250,000 for Thompson’s bid, but perhaps more significantly, Curb’s support could make the Thompson campaign attractive to music industry moguls who straddle the Hollywood, New York and Nashville scenes.

In a 40-year music industry career Curb has headed and founded several music labels. He is chairman of Curb Records, a label whose roster of recording artists includes Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Hank Williams Jr., the Judds, Lyle Lovett, Jo Dee Messina and Sawyer Brown. Curb also sits on the governing boards of the Recording Industry Association of America and the Country Music Foundation (Country Music Hall of Fame). He will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year after receiving the lifetime achievement award at the annual Los Angeles Music Awards last year.

Curb also is a GOP fundraising veteran. In 1976, he served as co-chairman of the Ronald Reagan California Campaign for President and later was co-chairman of President Gerald Ford’s California campaign. After his stint as lieutenant governor, in 1983 President Reagan called on Curb to serve as chairman of the Republican National Finance Committee during the president’s reelection campaign, responsible for raising more than $100 million.

Another influential member of Team Thompson, Ken Reitz, helped found Curb Records and now is a senior counselor at the Washington-based political campaign and commercial advertising firm 360Advantage. 360Advantage is a joint venture of the consulting firms of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Burson-Marsteller, BKSH & Associates and Direct Impact.

Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), Thompson’s leading cheerleader in the House, says the former senator will visit the Capitol a week from Friday to unveil his full team of House supporters and designate specific policy chairmen both within Congress and the larger Washington political world.

Blackburn as well as GOP Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) and Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) will be on hand, as will one other unidentified member of the Republican leadership team. Wamp also said former Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.), now a partner at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, is part of a growing policy team.