Thompson Makes White House
Bid Official on Tonight Show

Fred Thompson made it officially official today, telling Jay Leno that he is running for president in a taping of the "Tonight Show" to be broadcast later tonight.

"That's one of the things I wanted to talk to you about," Thompson told Leno. "I'm running for president of the United States."

The long-awaited answer ends for good the waffling that Thompson has exhibited for three months. Asked by Leno whether he was starting to get "wrinkly" from "testing the waters" for so long, Thompson replied "these wrinkles aren't from water."

In the Leno interview, Thompson said he does not think he has started too late. "I don't think people are going to say that guy would make a very good president, but he just didn't get in soon enough," he said.

He called his rivals "formidable," but said he thought he would be formidable as well.

He also criticized the debates like the one taking place tonight in New Hampshire that he is skipping. "I'll do my share, but I don't think it's a very enlightening forum, to tell you the truth."

--Michael D. Shear