Thompson takes S.C. test drive

Columbia — Fred Thompson sounded Wednesday like he already is a candidate for president.

On his first trip to South Carolina since signaling that he will enter the Republican presidential field, he spoke about the war in Iraq, the flaws of the Senate immigration bill and his pro-life views.

The former U.S. senator and "Law & Order" actor also said his thoughts have been on the Palmetto State since his visit to London last week, when he learned of the deaths of nine firefighters in Charleston.

He said he recently had toured the Winston Churchill museum with Churchill's grandson and recalled the late prime minister's words about the debt of England to the Royal Air Force during World War II: "Never have so many owed so much to so few."

Thompson likened the bravery of firefighters to that of soldiers. "If we weren't the home of the brave, we wouldn't be the home of the free," he said.

He said corruption and excessive spending were more to blame for Republican defeats last fall than the unpopularity of the war in Iraq. "Some of our folks went to Washington to drain the swamp and made partnership with the alligators instead," he said.

As for Iraq, Thompson said he was still optimistic about the United States' role there. "This is not going to be war of bombs. This is going to be a war of wills, and we have to win," he said. "It's not going to be solved tomorrow or the next day. People don't like to hear things like that, but that's the truth."

Thompson said the nation needs to seal its border before considering other aspects of what to do about the illegal immigrants already here.

He spoke to a crowd of 320 GOP loyalists who paid $50 each to attend the luncheon. Some of the strongest applause came when he talked about his belief in the sanctity of human life.

Thompson is expected to join the field of Republican presidential candidates next month, but he already has drawn the attention of many party faithful unhappy with those in the race.

Charleston County Register of Mesne Conveyance Charlie Lybrand was among those who showed up for lunch Wednesday, calling himself "the unofficial, unannounced, unasked-for endorser" of Thompson.

Lybrand said he was unhappy with Sen. John McCain's support of the current immigration bill, by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's support for the right to an abortion, and with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's "flip-flopping." Lybrand said other GOP candidates don't have a realistic shot at winning.

"I think Fred Thompson is our last and best hope," Lybrand said. "You ask him a question and he answers it. No political mumbo jumbo. He just answers the question."

Former Charleston County Republican Chairwoman Cyndi Mosteller agreed that Thompson could capitalize on Republican voters' frustration with other candidates. "I think he will be in some ways a sweeping candidate. He'll sweep away votes from other fine candidates who don't have the total package."

State Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, is leading the state's movement to draft Thompson and said he was pleased with the former senator's first appearance stumping in the state. "He has appeal that some of the other candidates do not," Grooms said. "All the candidates seem to have some type of flaw, and there's a lot of dissatisfaction with Republican voters in South Carolina with the current field."

Before his public remarks at the luncheon, Thompson met privately with others who paid $500 to discuss issues with him. Proceeds from that meeting and the lunch went to the state Republican party.

Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or at rbehre@postand courier.com.