Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson says America must stick with conservative principles if it hopes to sustain its economy and defeat radical Islamists who’ve declared war on our way of life.
A crowd of about 400 gathered in downtown Des Moines Thursday afternoon for the launch of Thompson’s Iowa campaign. "This is the first event of the first day of our campaign for the presidency of the United States," Thompson said. "How special does that get?" (photo: Thompson during a stop earlier this year at the Iowa State Fair)
Thompson called his three-day campaign swing through Iowa "appropriate" since Iowa’s Caucuses are the traditional start of the presidential campaign. "In case some person somewhere in the United States of America does not know this, it all begins in Iowa and that’s where we wanted to be today," Thompson said.
The crowd’s first view of Thompson, however, came in a video titled "The Hunt for a Red November" — a reminder that Thompson acted in a movie called "The Hunt for Red October." Thompson joked that he had thought about playing the video twice instead of giving a speech.
"I am not here today because I have had a life-long ambition to hold the office of the presidency, nor do I think that I have all the answers for the problems that face this country. I don’t think any person does," Thompson said. "But I am a man who loves his country, who is concerned about her future and knows that in the next years it’s going to require strong leadership."
According to Thompson, he’s lived "an American story" and saw a "door of opportunity" and that’s why he’s running. "So the preseason is over," Thompson said. "Let’s get on with it."
Thompson promised a "serious" and "frank" conversation about the hurdles ahead for America. "And we’re going to make sure that at the end of the day, if the good Lord is willing, we’ll be victorious," Thompson said.
Thompson’s appearing Thursday night in Council Bluffs. On Friday, he’ll be in Sioux City and Mason City and then on Saturday, Thompson will campaign in Cedar Rapids and Davenport.
Click on the audio link below to hear Thompson’s speech in Des Moines.