COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson’s first official visit to South Carolina Monday served as an introduction to the "values voters" in this important primary state, which will help choose the next Republican presidential nominee.
But once Christian conservatives move past the getting-to-know-you phase, will they like what Thompson has to say on abortion and right-to-life issues?
Joe Mack, director of public policy at the South Carolina Baptist Convention, said it might be too early to tell. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (an ordained Baptist minister) have all been working hard to make inroads with this important voting bloc.
"We certainly agree with Brownback and Huckabee," Mack said in an interview. "On social and moral issues they’re right down the line ... Brownback and Huckabee, and Romney for that matter, have been here for awhile and talked to a lot of our people. We’ll have to see how things shape out now that [Thompson's] in the race."
During a campaign appearance in Greenville, Thompson spoke about how viewing his four-year-old daughter Hayden’s sonogram before she was born "changed me."
"I thought it was a confirmation that he was pro-life, based on that comment," said Mack, who added that "Thompson is probably right on the issues, but we need hear that articulated in more detail."
[For specific stories about South Carolina and the 2008 race for the White House, check out CNN's South Carolina Political Ticker.]
— CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby