NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Rally Urges Thompson To Run For President

Rally Urges Thompson To Run For President

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Supporters held a rally to urge former U.S. senator and actor Fred Thompson to run for president Saturday.

About 300 people gathered for the rally in Cookeville. They said it was the first organized rally to draft the star of NBC's "Law and Order" for the 2008 race.

Supporters said they are unhappy with the leading Republican candidates so far.

Chattanooga Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp told the crowd Thompson can win the nomination and then the election by drawing in Democrats and independents. 

Wamp said Thompson will talk at Republican gatherings around the country next month. He could decide whether to run in June.

Thompson said last month he has been pondering a run since former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker and Bill Frist began drumming up support for his candidacy. 

In national popularity polls he has run third among Republicans, behind former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)