Thompson staff says Google description of candidacy jumps the gun

Thompson staff says Google description of candidacy jumps the gun

August 7, 2007

NASHVILLE (AP) -- Fred Thompson's spokeswoman says a Google description of his redesigned Web site is jumping the gun on the status of the actor-politician's presidential considerations.

Type the phrase "Friends of Fred Thompson" into Google, and the first link returned by the search engine describes the Web page as the "Official site of Fred Thompson for President Exploratory Committee."

An exploratory committee would be a major step between Thompson's less formal "testing the waters" committee and an official bid for the Republican nomination for president.

But spokeswoman Linda Rozett called the description inaccurate. Rozett said she doesn't know how the description got on Google.

The press office at Google Inc. did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Thompson was originally expected to enter the race as early as July, but an announcement is now expected the week of Labor Day.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)