By DPA
Washington : Former senator and actor Fred Thompson said he will run for US president, seeking the Republican nomination in the 2008 contest.
Thompson, known by many for his portrayal of a lawyer on the hit television series “Law & Order”, made his announcement on broadcaster NBC’s “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, saying simply, “I’m running for president of the United States.”
He then posted a formal video announcement early Thursday on his campaign website detailing his positions.
The former senator from Tennessee has drawn media attention for months as speculation mounted about a potential White House bid and has already landed near the top in opinion polls of potential primary voters along with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
Thompson is a latecomer to the race, which began unusually early this year, pushing the presidential contest nearly two years before voters head to the polls in November 2008. In fact, while he made his announcement eight of his competitors for the Republican nomination squared off in a debate in the state of New Hampshire.
He faced jabs from the other candidates for his late start and failure to participate in the debate.
Some conservative Republicans have awaited his entry to the race, expressing a dissatisfaction with the other front runners, especially Giuliani, whose positions on social issues, such as abortion, are seen as more liberal.