Thompson's Team
Shifts Again

The revolving door continues in Fred Thompson's non-candidate presidential committee, with the departure of communications director Linda Rozett.

In an email to the staff, newly-installed committee manager Bill Lacy said he wants a communications director that has more experience in big-time presidential campaigns. Rozett, a former senior executive at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, had never worked a campaign.

"It is my duty to let you know that Linda Rozett is no longer with our committee. I will have to make a lot of tough decisions to make our venture successful, and this was one of them. Linda is a talented, professional and gracious lady who will be missed," Lacy wrote in the e-mail which was reported by washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza in The Fix.

Rozett's departure is just the latest staffing crisis for Thompson, who is expected to announce officially early next month. Last week, press aide Burson Snyder left. Several weeks ago, the top manager, Tom Collamore, left abruptly to be replaced by Lacy.

In his email, Lacy wrote that "Linda strongly stated that she wanted the best for Sen. Thompson and wished us success. Let's all wish her the best of luck."

Rozett herself offered a similarly upbeat tone. In an interview Monday, she said that "it's a non-event that Bill Lacy wants to bring in his own team. While I'm sorry not to be part of the committee, I certainly wish Bill Lacy and Senator Thompson all the success."

--Michael D. Shear