Thompson makes case for less government

Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson continued his full-court press in South Carolina Saturday morning by meeting with about 100 supporters in North Charleston and continuing to take jabs at a rival.

While Thompson didn't name names, his comments at Perkins Family Restaurant echoed what he said in Thursday night's debate about former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee being too liberal for the Republican base.

"A lot of people nowadays think that we have to be moving away from our traditions of the Republican party," he said. "Most of the populist rhetoric you hear winds up in bigger government and more government programs. Why else have that rhetoric? I mean, what are you talking about if you're not leading with the government coming up with the solution? ... The way they interpret compassion is more government. I don't agree with any of that."

He also talked about Iran, Pakistan and China and of the need to secure the U.S. border with Mexico. He said the illegal immigrants already here couldn't be rounded up and deported, but instead should be encouraged to leave by reversing the economic incentives that lured them here in the first place.

Thompson, who has said he must do very well in South Carolina's Jan. 19 GOP primary to remain a viable candidate, was scheduled to campaign around Beaufort County later Saturday. He has no plans to join many of his rivals in Michigan, which holds its primary Tuesday.

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