When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich decided in late September he would not run for president this year, Bob Walker went looking for another Republican he could support.

He found Fred Thompson.

"I'm interested in somebody who is seriously considering the issues not just as a political gimmick, but has real, long-term ideas in mind for fixing some very large problems we face immediately and down the road," Walker says.

"I came to the conclusion that Fred Thompson was the guy in the race who had that kind of serious attitude," says Walker, a Lititz resident and Lancaster County's former congressman. "I would have backed Newt had he decided to run."

Last week, days before Iowa held its caucuses, Walker offered to serve as Thompson's campaign chairman in Pennsylvania — and the former actor and U.S. senator gladly accepted. Now Walker will play a key role in helping Thompson try to get the nomination here, if he remains in the race through the April 22 primary.

A lot depends on what happens in the next two weeks.

Walker, who retired from Congress in 1997, says he was encouraged by Thompson's third-place finish in Iowa last week behind only former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Thompson edged Sen. John McCain.

"I think he beat expectations in Iowa. Finishing third was regarded by most people as being a major step. It was conceded that Huckabee and Romney were going to be one and two," says Walker, 65. "Third place was considered to be a prize."

Thompson has essentially given up New Hampshire and is focusing on South Carolina's Jan. 19 primary. "South Carolina is a make-or-break state," says Walker. "If he doesn't do well in South Carolina, the money will dry up pretty quickly.

"He's been able to get some new funding as a result of his finish in Iowa, and so he will now have the resources to be competitive in South Carolina. He has to not only be competitive but be in the hunt," Walker says.

Walker says Thompson's campaign is planning rallies in Pennsylvania as the state's primary nears, including one in either Lancaster or Harrisburg. But no dates have been set.

Gingrich announced on Sept. 29 he would not run for president in 2008 after determining he could not legally explore a bid and remain head of his tax-exempt political organization.

Walker says Thompson is the only Republican currently in the race who has addressed serious issues such as energy independence and entitlement issues.

"We're making financial promises we can't possibly keep," Walker says. "On our energy problem, he is one of the few people who say this is a long-term problem. We didn't get there overnight, and we're not going to get out of it overnight."

Walker's successor in the 16th Congressional District seat, Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, is not backing anyone yet. "He still hasn't indicated support for any one of the candidates yet," says spokesman Andrew Cole. "Frankly I cannot see him doing so until the nomination is decided."

CONTACT US: tmurse@LNPnews.com or 481-6021