Thompson also expects his conservative reputation to serve him in South Carolina.

“South Carolina and Florida are huge priorities for the Thompson campaign and are where he is positioned to do well,” said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), a Thompson backer who represents conservative-leaning Polk County in the I-4 corridor.

Putnam predicted Thompson would run strongly in north Florida and southwest Florida, areas he called “natural for Fred” because of their many “fiscally conservative Republicans.” Thompson is battling with Romney and Huckabee for the state’s most conservative voters.

But Rep. Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), a Romney supporter, predicts most conservatives will swing to Romney after early contests “dramatically narrow the field.”

“I think it’s going to come down to a two-man race,” he said. “I think all of us are convinced it will be Giuliani and Romney.”