'Law & Order' Star Thompson Pondering Presidential Run

"Law & Order" Star Thompson Pondering Presidential Run

March 12, 2007 9:51 a.m. EST

William Macklin - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Fred. D. Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee whose political career has been a counterpoint to work as a television and film actor, says he's considering a run for the 2008 GOP nomination for president.

A star of NBC's popular crime drama, "Law & Order," Thompson said Sunday he'll make a decision about the campaign in the next few months.

"I think people are somewhat disillusioned," Thompson, 64, told the Associated Press. "I think a lot of people are cynical out there. I think they're looking for something different. . . . And I think that they're going to be open to different things."

Thompson said his potential candidacy is "not really a reflection on the current field," but his entrance into the Republican race could hearten conservatives. The party's two leading candidates, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona have both elicited lukewarm responses from the GOP's social conservative base.

"He's a conservative and there's some question on the Republican side as to whether we have a true conservative in the race," said former vice-president Bob Dole.

Thompson, who opposes abortion and gay marriage, said he has already drawn support from former Senate majority leader Howard H. Baker Jr., a Tennessee Republican and a respected conservative.

Thompson refused to set a specific date to announce a campaign, but made it clear that he is considering a run.

"I'm giving some thought to it, going to leave the door open," he said.