SNEAK PEEK: Thompson Hits Airwaves

November 6, 2007— -- Fred Thompson launches his first television ads Wednesday and the senator-turned-actor-turned-candidate emphasizes his "common sense conservative principles" while speaking in a small town diner.

"I grew up in a little hometown just like this," Thompson says, as he shakes hands with diner patrons.

ABC News' Christine Byun reports that the ads will air in Iowa and nationally on Fox News.

"I've been a conservative my whole life," Thompson says in the ad, as a picture of him shaking hands with Ronald Reagan flashes on-screen. "Started the first Young Republican Club in Lawerenceburg, Tennessee."

The "Southern-fried Reagan" is sharpening his tongue, Byun notes, and targeted rival Mitt Romney while trying to shore up support in the key early voting state of South Carolina.

From a sportsbar in Fort Mill, S.C, Thompson called out Romney for "buying" support in the Palmetto State.

"Governor, you can't buy South Carolina, you can't even rent South Carolina!" Thompson shouted, after accusing Romney of spending "20 million of his own personal fortune" in his bid for the White House.

(Mike Huckabee may want to look into a royalty check from the Thompson campaign – Thompson's declaration sounds echoes his own statement to Iowa Straw Poll voters this past summer. "I can't afford to buy you. I can't even afford to rent you," Huckabee said.)

Team Romney responds to Thompson's jab, via spokesman Kevin Madden: "Support from voters is earned though hard work and new ideas. Unfortunately for Fred Thompson, he has never shown much passion for either."

Thompson gets down with his southern roots Wednesday and appears with John Rich of Big & Rich at the Country Music Awards in Nashville.

Keep an eye on…Lansing Michigan: The Michigan Democrats' executive committee meets tomorrow night in Lansing and per the AP, Democratic National Committeewoman Debbie Dingell said today "the votes are there" to stick with the Jan. 15 primary.

Wednesday Nov. 14 is the drop-dead date for the Michigan Democrats and Republicans to inform the Michigan Secretary of State if they are going with a Jan. 15 primary to pick their delegates or some other method.

Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer told the AP today that Wednesday is the last scheduled meeting before Nov. 14 – "emphasizing the word 'scheduled.' He added that "we can meet by phone under the rules" any time between now and then."

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is playing it cool until things are sorted out in Michigan.