Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson checks out a train with 5-year-old Matthew Young of Muscatine while at A Planet’s Wild in downtown Muscatine Wednesday afternoon.

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson was in and out of Muscatine in a matter of minutes Wednesday afternoon during an an interview at the Muscatine Journal and a tour of two downtown stores.

Fred Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, and his wife, Jeri Thompson Kehn, shook hands and greeted the few people they came across during the visit that took place from about 2:45-3:15 p.m.

During the interview, which began with the candidate’s campaign aide placing a timer on the table and giving the reporter 10 minutes, Thompson said he plans to maintain a solid campaign over a matter of months, rather than years, as some others have chosen to do.

“I announced at the same time as candidates traditionally do; others just announced earlier,” he said of what some have said was a late entry into the presidential race.

He added that “being in everybody’s face” and “inundating the airwaves” with a political agenda is a route that he’s chosen to avoid — and he believes the public prefers it that way.

He said he’s concerned about the direction the country is going and says he has the experience that backs his bid for the White House. He’s well known for his role as District Attorney Arthur Branch on the TV show, “Law & Order,” but has also been an accomplished attorney and served as a U.S. Senator for more than 10 years. As a child, he wanted to be a cowboy when he grew up, but always remembers his real ambition was to become a lawyer.

“I wanted to stand up in a courtroom and plead somebody’s case ... I’ve done that,” he said.

Thompson took some heat in a Politico.com story published Wednesday titled, “Fred Thompson: Lazy as Charged.” It said he was scheduled to tour the town of Waverly but opted not to because the streets were icy — even though the newspaper where he did an interview  was on the main street surrounded by businesses.

When asked at the Journal about the critical story, Thompson said nothing, read part of it and slid it under his hat on the table. His wife, on the other hand, seemed irritated and said she had a bone to pick with the publication, that the campaign opted out of the town tour to protect people from slipping on the ice and that the article was the only bad press her husband had received while in Iowa.

On the street

The Thompsons made their way down Second Street into Snackers 2, where they spoke with the employees who were preparing to close the store for the day.

“We weren’t expecting him at all. It’s a great surprise,” said Jim Truitt, a Snackers 2 employee. “It’s a great surprise and privilege. He represents down-to-earth values.”

The couple also went in to A Planet’s Wild toy store in search of some American-made toys. They chatted with children and looked over the variety of items before jumping back on the bus and heading to Davenport.

Reporter contact information

Melissa Regennitter: 563-262-0526

or mregennitter@muscatinejournal.com