AIKEN --- Undecided voters stood on chairs and bumped elbows just to hear Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson on Monday.

Although his visit to Aiken County was delayed by a couple of hours, about 200 residents came to his campaign stop at Papa Russ's Barbecue to see whether the Law & Order star and former senator would get past his television persona and hit on real issues.

"I think we may have decided on a candidate, but we wanted to experience him personally," Mark Thompson, of Aiken, said of his family's wait.

Mr. Thompson acknowledged that he needs a win in South Carolina's Republican presidential primary Saturday but was unapologetic about his campaign, telling voters that if he's too laid back for their tastes there are plenty of other candidates to choose from.

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., introduced Mr. Thompson in the dining room while loudspeakers in The Alley outside allowed latecomers to hear the message.

After touting national security and Supreme Court appointments as the two most important issues facing the next president, Mr. Thompson took questions from the audience before slowly winding his way to his tour bus.

"I believe our country's better days are ahead of us if we do what we ought to do," he said.

While some voters were looking for answers, diehard supporters drove to Aiken in an effort to sway the undecided.

"I'm not from South Carolina, but I'll be contacting people in South Carolina because the alternative is unacceptable and I'll have to pay for it," said Dianne Thomas, of Charlotte, N.C. "He has more depth that's not always shown in a sound bite."

Mr. Thompson's foreign policy experience and knowledge of the economy are issues that Ms. Thomas said get lost, but she said that if voters see him they'll know he's a politician who's still about the people.

"He doesn't talk in sayings like 'change,' " she said.

Mr. Thompson wouldn't say whether a first-place finish in Saturday's primary was necessary for him to continue his quest for the Republican nomination.

He will continue his tour bus campaign in South Carolina through Friday, concluding in Columbia.