Earlier this week, former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said it's not too late for Fred Thompson to compete for the GOP nomination, but to make up for lost time, the former senator must demonstrate "a command over policy issues." Fleischer added, "He's got to knock the policy questions out of the park."

So much for that idea.

Freshly minted GOP White House hopeful Fred Thompson puzzled Iowans yesterday by insisting an Al Qaeda smoking ban was one reason freedom-loving Iraqis bolted to the U.S. side.

"They said, 'You gotta quit smoking,'" Thompson explained to a questioner asking about progress in Iraq during a town hall-style meeting. [...]

Thompson's tale of a smokers' revolt baffled some in the audience of about 150 who came to decide whether the former Tennessee senator is ready for prime time.

"I don't know what that was about," said Jim Moran, 72, who had driven from nearby McCook Lake, S.D.

Thompson's been getting a lot of that lately.

In just the last couple of days, Thompson has had trouble explaining his position on Social Security; dismissed the significance of Osama bin Laden, describing him as "more symbolism than anything else"; said he believes "we better figure out a way" to combat al Qaeda (not that he necessarily knows how), and proposed a bizarre constitutional amendment on gay marriage, arguing that "zero" state legislatures "have affirmatively approved gay marriage," a claim that happens to be wrong.

No wonder this guy is ducking debates; he's nowhere near ready for prime time.