COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom said he is endorsing Fred Thompson for the Republican presidential nomination. Eckstrom said the former Tennessee senator shows clear leadership on social, fiscal and defense issues and is the only conservative candidate to have momentum going into Saturday's Republican primary in South Carolina. Eckstrom says Thompson can be a leader for the nation like Gov. Mark Sanford is a leader for South Carolina. Eckstrom is a Republican serving his second term as comptroller general.