Thompson, in jab at rivals, says he hasn't changed

DES MOINES, Iowa — Presidential candidate Fred Thompson said Thursday he's a Republican who has never strayed from his conservative beliefs, a jab at Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney designed to highlight differences with his chief rivals.

In his first campaign appearance as a full-fledged candidate, the actor-politician touched on the array of issues — smaller government, a strong defense, free markets, individual freedoms, border security — that he has talked about for months in the run-up to his official entrance. He addressed a polite crowd of a couple hundred people in the early voting state of Iowa.

"This is what I believe and have believed and will continue to believe," Thompson told the crowd as he sought to contrast himself with Giuliani and Romney. "I haven't changed."

Thompson enters a GOP race in flux with Giuliani, the former New York mayor, leading in national polls and Romney, the one-time governor of Massachusetts, holding the edge in Iowa and New Hampshire.

In 1994, Giuliani espoused liberal-to-moderate positions on social issues and endorsed Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo. Romney was a moderate challenging Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in liberal Massachusetts. Today, some conservatives question Giuliani's and Romney's credentials — and Thompson sees an opening for his candidacy.

At the first of two Iowa appearances, Thompson spoke about his upbringing in tiny Lawrenceburg, Tenn., in a family of modest means as well as his run for the Senate in 1994. That year the GOP seized control of Congress and Thompson triumphed in Tennessee.

"I'm that same guy. I haven't changed," he said.

Republican rivals who greeted his made-for-television candidacy with barbed humor Wednesday night were far more biting in their criticism on Thursday.

Mike Huckabee said he was the "authentic conservative" in the race and cited Thompson's past work as a lobbyist for a family planning group wanting to relax an abortion rule. The former Arkansas governor also suggested Thompson skipped Wednesday's GOP debate because he can't meet expectations.

"Frankly, sometimes the reason somebody doesn't show up for the game is they're not sure they can perform well enough to win," he said in a conference call with reporters.

In Minnesota, Giuliani played down Thompson's entry into the race. "I don't run against any other Republican, I run against Democrats," he said.

Staff upheaval continued at the Thompson campaign with the departure of Mark Corallo, the fourth aide to leave the communications team in the last month.