WATERLOO - Not even the political fire in Tommy Thompson's belly could melt an ice storm that gripped the area Saturday.

The former Wisconsin governor, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary and would-be presidential candidate had an appearance at Beck's Sports Brewery canceled Saturday, despite an overnight drive from Des Moines in an ice storm.

"We left about 9 p.m. from Des Moines to drive to Waterloo. We got here at 1 a.m. It was treacherous," said Thompson, who's formed a presidential exploratory committee. "The restaurant where our rally was called us and said the parking lot was absolutely covered with ice. Naturally, he canceled because he didn't want someone to fall and I didn't either."

Despite today's deep freeze, Thompson's convinced he's the hot candidate on the Republican side because of the organization he's built up in the state, which he indicated rivaled former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack's on the Democrat side before Vilsack's withdrawal from the race Friday.

"I feel bad about that. I like Tom," Thompson said of Vilsack's withdrawal. But while Vilsack cited an inability to raise national funds to sustain a candidacy outside Iowa, Thompson is undaunted.

"I really feel I have an excellent chance to do the same thing Jimmy Carter did in 1976," Thompson said, when the relatively unknown former Georgia governor's caucus showing catapulted him to national prominence and the presidency. He also said he would be the only candidate in the race with both state and national political experience, and touted his welfare reform and health care initiatives in Wisconsin and as Health and Human Services secretary.

In addition to his boots on the ground in the state, Thompson said he's drawing good crowds and feels he's more specific on the issues than some of the bigger-name, so-called "rock star" candidates.

On Iraq, Thompson said the Iraqi people should be able to vote on whether they want to continue to have U.S. troops there. "I really think it would build the legitimacy of our position," he said, confident a majority of Iraqis would support a continuing U.S. presence.

From there, Thompson proposed setting up a confederation of 18 territorial governments, similar to American states, while retaining a strong central government, giving the various ethnic groups within the country some regional autonomy while maintaining national unity.

In addition, Thompson proposed sharing the nation's petroleum sale proceeds among the national and territorial governments and each and every Iraqi citizen. That would give the industrious Iraqis capital to begin establishing small businesses and free enterprise, he said.

In addition, Thompson favors "medical diplomacy," which he learned from international travels as H&HS secretary, including trips to Afghanistan, where he undertook health care initiatives for women and children previously oppressed under the Taliban.

He proposed a massive health care initiative recruiting young medical professionals to serve on hospital ships to travel worldwide, serving overseas ports of call, raising the standard of living and building up international goodwill for the U.S.

He indicated it is a moot point to argue about President Bush's troop surge because the president has made that decision as commander in chief. The country must look beyond that for long-term solutions, he said.

"Americans are quick to react but they don't want to stay there forever. Americans want results. We're a very results-oriented society," he said.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com.