Fred
Thompson on the issues

A look at where Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson stands on a sampling of issues, drawn from his 2008 campaign and his record as a Tennessee senator from 1994 to 2003:

ABORTION: Says constitutional right to abortion should be overturned. Says states should decide abortion policy, indicating he would not support a constitutional abortion ban. Previously stated support for right to early-term abortion.

DEATH PENALTY: Favors.

ENVIRONMENT: Questions whether global warming caused by human activity is real. Cites research suggesting solar system is warming. As senator, supported opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

GAY RIGHTS: Would let states decide whether to sanction civil unions. Supports federal action to protect states from having to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. As senator, voted against legislation to prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation.

GOVERNMENT: Would limit powers of the federal government in areas where states can make own policy, among them welfare, education, same-sex relationships.

GUN CONTROL: Hostile to many gun control proposals, including mandatory background checks at gun shows. Supported campaign finance changes that gun groups and other activists saw as an infringement of their speech rights.

IMMIGRATION: Opposes the conditional path to citizenship for illegal immigrants laid out in legislation that President Bush supported. Previously supported selective expansion of legal immigration.

IRAN: Would consider preemptive attack if Iran came close to developing nuclear weapons.

IRAQ: Supports Bush's course in Iraq and said in June he still believed it was right to invade.

SOCIAL SECURITY: Favored partial privatization.

TAXES: Supported Bush's tax cuts.

TRADE: Supported liberalized trade agreements. (AP)