Thompson speaks early in S.C.

Fred Thompson's campaign has been somewhat unconventional, and it continued tonight, talking to supporters even before the South Carolina primary results were out

"We appreciate you," he said, also thanking his family and starting to speak in past tense as if he were going to drop out. In early returns, Thompson is battling with Mitt Romney for third in a state he had declared his last stand.

"It's never been about me," he said. "The party is being required to look at itself in the mirror."

But then he went on to his standard speech about conservative values

"We'll always stand together....Stand strong. Stand strong."