Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican presidential hopeful, campaigned in Iowa City Sunday. Since forming his presidential exploratory committee, the former Health and Human Services Secretary’s focus has been on four swing states — areas he feels will ultimately hold the key to Republicans returning to the White House.

"Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan," Thompson says. "…That’s why I think I have a leg up over all the other candidates is because I come from the Midwest." Thompson attended the Iowa/Wisconsin men’s basketball game and then made telephone calls to potential supporters in Iowa.

Thompson says after talking with Iowans, he understands the war in Iraq remains the top issue. He’s proposed forming a new confederation in Iraq where warring Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds would operate as distinct states reporting to a central Iraqi government.