CHARLESTON - America's greatest challenge is winning the war on terrorism and it will take changes in national policy to it, former Attorney General Charlie Condon said Tuesday in announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

"Winning this war is the central calling of our time and the central problem of the 21st century," Condon in a formal speech announcing his candidacy. "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 is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Ernest "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.

Condon made his announcement in a speech at The Citadel instead of flying across the state for media conferences in major markets. He said he found during his unsuccessful run for governor last year that voters don't want bumper-sticker slogans but detailed positions from candidates.

Condon, a former Charleston-area prosecutor who served two terms as S.C. attorney general, 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 is concerned about how America is handling homeland security.

"The answers lie not in bigger budgets, but in properly focused effort," he said. He said he would "de-emphasize the grand sweep of the homeland security bureaucracy" to focus on suspected terrorist enclaves.

"This focus means not devoting our homeland security energies toward demanding that elderly ladies remove their shoes at airports," 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 said.

Although "Saudi connections to global terrorism are everywhere" the State Department is timid in dealing with the kingdom because of America's dependence on Saudi oil, he said.

America must expand domestic oil production and require more fuel-efficient vehicles, Condon said.

China "clearly presents a danger to the civilized world," and America must make it clear that any nation supporting terrorism will be considered a hostile regime, he said.

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