Anyone can see Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson needs a lifeline in New Hampshire and he got one today with the naming of Charles Arlinghaus as a volunteer adviser to the effort.

   ``He's gotten a late start of course but I've been an admirer of Fred Thompson going quite a while back. I truly believe he's someone who can unite economic and social conservatives,'' Arlinghaus said during a telephone interview.

  Arlinghaus stressed he would keep his day job as executive director of the Josiah Bartlett Center, a right of center think tank based in Concord.

  But when an old friend, Thompson National Political Director Randy Enwright came calling, Arlinghaus couldn't resist the tempation to enter the fray even with no more than 84 days before New Hampshire will go to the polls.

   Enwright and Arlinghaus served as political directors together for the Republican National Committee during the Bush administration, Arlinghaus heading up the Northeast and Enwright in charge of Florida for the RNC.

   ``I know the campaign has been slow in gearing up here but I still believe Fred has the smarts and the substance to make a real impact both here and in Iowa,'' Arlinghaus said.

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