In an 11-page speech at The Citadel's alumni house, Condon said America should follow President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive action against terror threats.

"We must shift to a policy of disarming hostile states and terrorist organizations before they take action against us," said Condon, a former Republican state attorney general.

Condon pledged his Senate race would be run differently than his previous campaigns in which he was branded a political street fighter. Instead, he plans to run on national themes and promote them on the Internet.

"For those that are looking for your traditional shallow sloganeering campaign, this won't be for them," he said.

Condon, who lives on Sullivan's Island and served as South Carolina attorney general from 1994 to 2002, is one of four Republicans seeking the Senate seat that opens next year with the retirement of Democrat Fritz Hollings. The others are U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride and Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel.

Democrats in the running include Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum and activist Marcus Belk. The primaries for both parties are in June.

One of the state's leading experts on Republican politics said Condon has a much better chance of winning the GOP Senate nomination than he did in his failed campaign to become governor last year. He finished third in a seven-way race.

Francis Marion University political scientist Neal Thigpen said Condon has an appeal to right-leaning voters who usually come out strong for GOP primaries.

"He's got a following," Thigpen said. "The Christian conservative network goes all over the state, and he's always been right on their issues."

"Red-meat voters," Thigpen added. "Red-meat conservative voters."

But Thigpen agreed Condon might do well to try to change his image for his Senate bid and expand his base.

"Make him a little more statesmanlike without taking out altogether his scrappiness," Thigpen said. "Kind of tone it down a little."

In past races, Condon had a reputation for using a sharp tongue. During his first campaign, he endorsed "the electric sofa" when Arkansas executed three murderers.

Since leaving the attorney general's office, Condon has worked as executive vice president and general counsel for Palmetto Surety Corp., an insurance company headquartered in Mount Pleasant. He also served as Charleston County's 9th Circuit solicitor more than a decade ago.

Condon said Tuesday he decided to re-enter politics because had something to offer at a critical time in history when the nation is geared toward home defense. "We must not wait for the next attack because the next one could be much worse," he said.

He said America should stay in Iraq "until the full fruits of freedom are enjoyed by the Iraqi people," and that he backed regime changes in Iran and North Korea. "I hope that can be done without the use of force, but unfortunately we must not rule out that option."

Although he supports the intent of Patriot Act, Condon said he backed plans by Congress to re-examine the act in 2005 to make sure it is not imposing on individual rights.

"I come from that part of the conservative movement that is very suspicious of increased government power," he said. "I believe that a healthy mistrust of government is desirable."

He also suggested the homeland security effort be better coordinated. "To me, this focus means not devoting our homeland security energies toward demanding that elderly ladies remove their shoes at airports," he said.

Thigpen said the GOP race appears to be a duel between Condon and DeMint, whom he dubbed "the establishment's choice."

Click here to return to story:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/082703/sta_27condon.shtml