Randy Enright, the national political director for Fred Thompson, just announced on a conference call with supporters that, "next Thursday on September 6 Senator Thompson will officially become a candidate for President of the United States."

Enright said the announcement will come via webcast on Thompson's site and will be immediately followed by a two-part grassroots tour that will begin in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and eventually get to Florida before winding up on September 15 with a "welcome home" rally in Thompson's home town of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

Enright said the goal of the campaign was to position Thompson as the "mainstream conservative in this race" and take advantage of the grassroots support and Fred's ability to "powerfully deliver his message."

Campaign manager Bill Lacy addressed the group briefly, thanking supporters for their patience as they worked through the busy period of "taking it to the next level" and assembling a team to move forward with a presidential campaign.