Calling himself "a consistent, common sense conservative," former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson brought his presidential campaign to Le Mars Tuesday afternoon.

"I've always been my own man," the GOP presidential hopeful told a crowd of 50 at 4 Brothers Bar & Grill. "I'm the same person today that I was yesterday and I'll be that same person tomorrow."

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Thompson, a two-term Tennessee Senator, is perhaps best known for acting in such movies as "The Hunt for Red October" and "Die Hard 2: Die Harder," and for playing hard-nosed District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC's long-running procedural drama, "Law & Order."

Stressing the importance of integrity in the 2008 race, Thompson quoted the late U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson.

"Stevenson once said the trick is to do everything that is necessary to be president, become president, and then, still deserve to be president," he maintained. "That's an important consideration for anyone seeking to be the leader of the free world."

"People shouldn't reward the person with the most money to spend," Thompson continued, "or who the polls tell them to vote for."

"Instead, they should support the person who'll be able to make a difference," he stated.

That's why Thompson said he was happy to be back in Iowa.

"Iowans always take their politics very seriously," he says, "because it is in Iowa where everything gets set into motion."

One person in attendance who takes politics very seriously was Don Kass.

Chairman of the Plymouth County Republican Party, Kass said he was impressed by the political heavyweights who've been making their way through the Ice Cream Capital of the World.

"Le Mars is now on the political map," he exclaimed. "I've seen us mentioned in the Kansas City Star, the Boston Globe, even the New York Times."

"You can't buy media like that," Kass smiled. "It's amazing!"

For Janet Manning, she wanted to see Thompson for two reasons.

"First, I know he's a strong pro-life proponent and I support that," the Le Mars woman said. "Secondly, I know he's originally from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee and that's where my brother lives."

Jerry Ihrke, Brad Holder, and Ryan Groetken were interested in a myriad of issues. The three men were holding court in the front row of tables at Tuesday's event.

"I'm interested in hearing what Thompson thinks of welfare reform," Groetken said. "I think over the years, people have lost sight of the fact that entitlements were meant to be a hand up, not a hand out."

"Entitlements," Holder groaned. "Now, that's a bad word. People always feel they're entitled to something."

"Remember what JFK said?" interjected Ihrke. "'Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.'"

"Don't hear very many politicians say things like that anymore," he said, shaking his head.

Between the three of them, they said they have seen most of the major candidates as they passed through Le Mars.

"I'm 75 percent sure about who I'm going to support come caucus time," Ihrke said, giving himself a little bit of wriggle room, "but I also want to give everyone a fair shot."

Whereas Ihrke is a political veteran, Jameson Sabin is a newcomer to the scene.

"2004 was the first time I was eligible to vote," said the Iowa State University student, "but this will be the first time I'll be going to caucus."

Wearing walking shorts and a fedora on a chilly afternoon, the young Le Mars man seemed out of place but he didn't seem to mind.

"I want to make an informed decision," Sabin said, "so I'm just trying to get as much information as I can."

What were the hot button issues for Sabin?

"Since I'm an aerospace engineering student at ISU," he explained, "education issues are important to me. So is the war."

"I entered the race because I had concerns with where the country was heading," Thompson said, "and with where my party was heading."

"Luckily, in every democracy, there is recourse," he added "I think people want change and there is no better substitute for change than at the ballot box."

"Where I stand (on an issues) doesn't change with whom I'm standing with," Thompson contends. "I'm strong enough, tough enough, and I'll always be honest with you."