Charleston With not a campaign poster or bumper sticker in sight, former S.C. Attorney General Charlie Condon announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Tuesday with a 30-minute speech on the war on terrorism.

"Winning this war is the central calling of our time and the central problem of the 21st century," Condon said in the address, in which he mentioned his candidacy only twice.

"As a United States senator from South Carolina, I would make it my foremost mission to ensure that freedom is safeguarded at home and nurtured abroad."

Condon spoke at The Citadel's alumni house before a crowd of 40 people including family, supporters and some students. The backdrop was a white wall with the American and state flags.

Condon is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, who is retiring after more than three decades in Washington.

At least three others are seeking the GOP nomination -- U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville; Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride; and Thomas Ravenel, a Lowcountry real estate developer.

Democrats seeking Hollings' seat include Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and Camden native Marcus Belk.

Condon said later while he is not abandoning the retail politics of bumper stickers and yard signs, the campaign will largely consist of speeches outlining his positions.

"The voters understand these issues are complicated and are looking for a substantial and substantive discussion," he said. "Those looking for a traditional, shallow, sloganeering campaign -- this won't be for them."

"What Condon is doing is taking the advice of his political consultants and not appear to be the shooting-from-the-hip Charlie Condon of the past," said Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen.

Condon, a former Charleston-area prosecutor who served two terms as South Carolina attorney general, ran unsuccessfully last year for governor.

In his speech, he said he supports President Bush's policy of disarming terrorists and hostile states before they can attack America.

But, noting his experience as a prosecutor, Condon said he has concerns about how America is handling homeland security.

"The answers lie not in bigger budgets, but in properly focused effort," he said.Condon said he would work to ensure law enforcement, intelligence and immigration databases are better integrated, to tighten policies on visitor visas and to push for development of drugs to treat people injured in biological attacks.

Saudi Arabia and China "clearly fit within President Bush's vision of hostile regimes, but have not received the kind of skeptical treatment they deserve," Condon added.

Thigpen said DeMint would have to be considered the early GOP front-runner, since 40 percent of the vote in any Republican statewide primary is cast in the Upstate. DeMint is from Greenville.

"But I wouldn't count Condon out. Charlie can stir up those Republicans out in the precincts," Thigpen said.