Mitt can't buy South Carolina, Thompson says

FORT MILL, S.C. (AP) — Republican Fred Thompson on Tuesday mocked rival Mitt Romney for spending millions of his own money on the presidential race.

"Governor, you can't buy South Carolina," Thompson told about 200 people at a restaurant. "You can't even rent South Carolina."

Romney, a former venture capitalist and one-time Massachusetts governor, has dipped into his personal wealth for nearly $17.5 million and has spent about $2 million on advertising in South Carolina. Romney has reported assets of between $190 million and $250 million in personal wealth.

Overall, Romney has raised about $45 million for his White House bid since the start of the year. Thompson, who didn't enter the race until this summer, has raised about $13 million.

Thompson focused on Romney's spending on the same day he launched television ads in Iowa and on Fox News Channel that will cost several hundred thousand dollars.

Thompson also criticized his rivals, in particular Arizona Sen. John McCain, for support of a failed immigration bill that was backed by President Bush.

"And of the so-called top-tier candidates, every one of my opponents in this race supported that bill, except me," Thompson said.

The former Tennessee senator misspoke. In fact, none of the other Republican candidates supported McCain's immigration bill this year, with top candidates Rudy Giuliani and Romney criticizing the measure at various debates and campaign stops.

Thompson is the first Republican candidate to directly criticize Romney's wealth. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has alluded to the spending by other campaigns, rejecting the notion that big money is essential.

"People have said you have to have this much money to be competitive and they've been wrong," he said. "A lot of these campaigns have spent an enormous amount of money. We have been frugal and make no apologies for that."