Fred Thompson made his candidacy for president official tonight by yucking it up on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” Thompson who has made some sort of game out of actually declaring his candidacy spared no theatrics tonight as he attempted to upstage the Republican debate by releasing his intentions “to reporters about an hour before the other Republican candidates took part in a Fox News-sponsored debate in the early primary state of New Hampshire.”

And, further attempting to upstage his opponents, Thompson “ran an ad, titled “Debate,” that appeared directly before the Republican candidates took their places to face live cameras in a much more traditional political ritual.”

In a dark suit with the backdrop of an American flag, Mr. Thompson said in the advertisement: “On the next president’s watch, our country will make decisions that will affect our lives and our families far into the future. We can’t allow ourselves to become a weaker, less prosperous and more divided nation.”

He then directed viewers to his Web site, Fred08.com, where he will give details of a platform and his reasons for entering the race.

In choosing to announce his candidacy on the couch next to the jovial Jay Leno during the taping of “The Tonight Show” this evening, Mr. Thompson was following the example of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, who chose that venue to declare his candidacy for governor of California.

On the show this evening, Mr. Leno joked, in reference to Mr. Thompson’s long “testing the waters” of a candidacy phase: “You’ve been in the water for a while now; are you starting to get a bit wrinkly?”

Maybe it’s too much fun in the Hollywood sun that’s made Fred wrinkly…

Thompson, 65, said his wrinkles did not come from water, and added: “We’re where we need to be right now and that’s one of the things I need to talk to you about. I’m running for president of the United States.”

Thompson took the easy way out, “skipping the debate and a more formal announcement at a news conference or on a news program.” He set himself up in a “pleasant, risk-free forum, safe from potential negativity and tough questioning from reporters, a debate moderator or the public.”

Still the actor… still the lobbyist… Thompson opted to pitch himself into everyone’s late laugh time, hoping to “to capitalize on his pop cultural appeal as a movie star and simultaneously reinforce his contention that he is a Washington outsider — although he lives in a suburb of the capital and worked extensively there as a lobbyist when not in the Senate.”

There’s fawning and speculating in the wingnut-sphere… and Kombiz Lavasany has the scoop on the latest to flee Fred’s camp before the big announcement. See Memeorandum for all the buzz. Here’s Thompson’s unimpressive “Debate” ad:

I’m glad I don’t watch TV.

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