Today's Daily Schadenfreude: Fred Thompson

Utah Fredheads meeting? Table for four? Please follow me ...

Looks like Fred Thompson's campaign is off to a rollicking good start in one of America's most conservative states:

A handful of Utah "Fredheads" - political activists supporting the late entry of Republican Fred Thompson into the presidential sweepstakes - gathered Thursday in Salt Lake City to kick off their campaign for the oldest fresh face in the race.

Just four Thompson supporters showed up at Utah Republican Party headquarters for the event, leaving dozens of untouched cookies and vegetable snacks provided in hopes a much bigger crowd would materialize.

Those present listened in on a live nationally broadcast conference call in which the new candidate thanked his supporters and told them he would be the candidate who wouldn't just give lip service to topics such as the war in Iraq.

Yep, that's right. Four. F-O-U-R. As in count them on one hand. As in fit them all into a red pickup truck, comfortably. As in you can't even put together a basketball team. As in one for each of Utah's electoral votes, with one vote left over.

Four. People.

Maybe Utahns just don't like Aqua Velva?

"He's a solid conservative," [Brenda Caine of Salt Lake City] said, adding that his acting experience allows him to better communicate with the media and personally connect with people through television.

Screw acting. He'd better be a magician and make some voters appear, and fast, or he'll be "personally connecting" with a quick exit from the race.

Well, Freddie, ol' pal, with that kind of showing in Utah, I can't wait to see how your juggernaut does in, say, Massachusetts. In the meantime, congratulations to you, Fred "Crumpled Paper Bag" Thompson, for today's Blast Off! Daily Schadenfreude is for you!