(Published August 25‚ 2003)

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Former Attorney General Charlie Condon will break with tradition and conventional political wisdom when he announces his candidacy for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings.

Instead of flying around the state for an airport news conference in the major media markets, Condon will announce Tuesday he is seeking the Republican nomination with a formal speech at The Citadel on the war on terrorism.

"I think the most important issue facing the state and the country is fighting international terrorism," Condon said, adding the speech will last about 40 minutes.

It will be delivered at the Citadel Alumni House to a group of alumni, supporters and reporters. And Condon plans similar speeches to outline his positions.

"A bumper-sticker solution is not going to work," Condon said. "There are no easy solutions here. If they were easy, we would have done them long ago."

At least three other Republicans are seeking the nomination. They include U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint of Greenville, Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride, and Thomas Ravenel, a Lowcountry real estate developer and son of well-known state Sen. Arthur Ravenel, R- Mount Pleasant.

The 81-year-old Hollings, a Democrat, announced earlier this month he will not seek re-election next year to the seat he has held for more than three decades.

Condon said one thing he learned in his unsuccessful run for governor last year is that people want a detailed discussion of the issues and a candidate's positions.

But he realizes such a campaign will be a challenge in an era of sound bites and 30-second television spots.

"So many of the traditional campaigns are in that sort of political fashion. I'm not going to do that," Condon said. "What I intend to do is present the voters very substantive, well-thought-out positions on the serious issues we are facing."

He said after his campaign for governor "I'm thoroughly convinced from being around this state that people are looking for that."

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