The State Newspaper (Columbia, SC): Fred "Thompson is more straight up about immigration and about smaller government."

SC Churchgoers search for GOP candidate
By Seanna Adcox - The Associated Press

The State (Columbia, SC)

www.thestate.com

Sunday, January 13, 2008

COLUMBIA - The faithful in South Carolina are still looking for the Republican presidential candidate who is the answer to their prayers.

Churchgoers on Sunday at the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville to those who attended services at the First Baptist Church in Columbia gave high marks to the four GOP candidates who have spent the most time in the state — Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Fred Thompson.

In South Carolina, where the GOP votes on Jan. 19, white evangelicals account for 53 percent of the state's likely Republican voters, according to the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

Yet, churchgoers remain divided over their choices...."I'd be comfortable with four of the six of them," said Steve Folks, 56. He considers former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani too liberal on social issues and said he "just hasn't connected with" former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon.
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It's tougher for Charlie Moss. He said he's still deciding between Huckabee, Thompson and Romney.... Moss said he won't vote for McCain because he backed an immigration bill that would have created a pathway to citizenship for most illegal immigrants.
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[Debbie] Perini attends Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, which boasts 13,000 members and an electronic message board touting a 24-hour prayer hot line. High-definition televisions in the lobby broadcast sermons, and the typically fired-up service lasts more than two hours. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke there a few months ago.

Mark Beck, who also attends Redemption World, said he hasn't decided between Huckabee and Thompson and plans to do some research to help him make a final decision. Thompson, he said, has a slight edge because of his tough talk on illegal immigration.

"Thompson is more straight up about immigration and about smaller government," said Beck, of Greer.
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Associated Press Writer Jacob Jordan in Greenville contributed to this report.