Fred Thompson's closing argument here: this thing isn't over.

Inside the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center on Wednesday, the  former presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from Tennessee exhorted some 250 guests at a GOP luncheon not to give up on Republican John McCain.

"Somebody told me this election is over," said Thompson, who then proceeded to tell that audience that it isn't, saying "the margin is closing."

"I've got something to tell Barack Obama: 'Don't look over your shoulder, something is gaining on you.' And we're going to bring it home on election day," Thompson said.

Most national polls show Obama, a Democratic U.S. senator from Illinois, with a sizable lead over McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona.

Thompson, who was the headline speaker at a GOP luncheon, spoke for nine minutes, shifting between optimism over narrowing polls and warnings about an Obama presidency.

"My friends, if we are to take them at their word, an Obama administration and a heavily Democratic Congress would bring us the most liberal approach to government that this country has ever seen," Thompson said.

Thompson also raised the prospect of higher taxes with Obama as president, saying many people share Joe the Plumber's concerns about a redistribution of wealth.

And Thompson, who played New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on television's Law & Order, also pressed the case that Obama is too inexperienced to handle the presidency "in a time of great peril."

Thompson said McCain, a former Navy pilot and prisoner of war, is someone who has dedicated his life to his country and "been involved with every major decision that's faced this country for the last 30 years."

"On the other hand, you have the most inexperienced, most liberal candidate that the Democrats have ever offered in the history of their party. Totally unproven. Totally untested," Thompson said.

Thompson called the choice facing voters "the most stark comparison of presidential candidates that we've ever had in this country."

"It is the most momentous presidential election in my lifetime," he added.

Thompson ended his remarks by prodding the crowd to do some legwork for McCain in the campaign's closing days.

"Don't let anybody decide this election for you. Don't let anybody convince you this election is over. Don't let anybody convince you that you can't do something in these last few days to make a difference," he said.

About 90 minutes before Thompson spoke, and as lunch guests began their meals, Rick Santorum, a former Republican U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, sketched  a dire picture of the country under an Obama presidency.

"You're talking about change? He's right, he will deliver change, but it is nothing that anybody in Lancaster County would like to see," Santorum said.

"This is a radical, radical man. He is as left as they come. And he will have unfettered ability to get his agenda passed because of the way the Senate is designed," he said.

Santorum said a Congress controlled by Democrats, coupled with a Democrat in the White House, will mean liberals can dictate the agenda on cultural issues such as abortion and gay marriage.

"Lancaster County, you've got to get energized," Santorum said. "And if you can't get energized on the positive side, get energized because of the fear of what can happen on the negative side. Because it's a lot to worry about."


Staff writer Chad Umble can be reached at cumble@LNPnews.com or 481-6031.