Transcript Staff Writer

While many candidates for president were trying to pull in last minute votes in New Hampshire, one candidate spent his time in Norman.

Gen. Jerry Curry spoke to Cleveland County Republicans at a luncheon at Coaches Restaurant Tuesday.

The Republican from Virginia seems like he's entering the race a bit late -- he won't officially declare his candidacy until Jan. 22 -- but he said he's overcome such obstacles before. He overcame the prejudice of his mixed racial heritage, he said. He also became a general after he started out as a private, even though everyone said he couldn't, Curry said.

"I've been told now that it's too late (to run) ..." he said. "What I say is yes, it's all true, except this: when we get to the finish line, let's see who the last man standing is, and I have a feeling it's gonna be me."

The two-star general seems to be serious about his candidacy. He will be on the Republican primary ballot in about 15-20 states, including Oklahoma, he said.

"What it is is enough to make me a player in the national convention," Curry said.

He said he's spent the past several days in the Norman area.

"Oklahoma is the heartland of America. I really think if folks here invite you to the bosom of your state" you can win over any state, he said.

Curry has a 34-year active military career serving in Korea and Vietnam, and was the military deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Carter administration, press secretary to the secretary of defense in the Reagan administration and administrator of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration in the Bush Sr. administration.

Curry's military background will be an asset if he is elected president, he said.

"I really think a lot of the problems in our future are going to be military problems."

How would he secure America's borders? Once he became president, he would call the secretary of defense into his office and tell him he has 90 days to do whatever necessary to secure the borders, Curry said. By the end of that time, the borders would be secure.

How would he solve problems with Iran?

"The way I would handle that is very simple. I think you tell the world, the United Nations, Iran, you tell everybody you can, 'This is bad stuff, stop it. If you don't stop it, we're going to have a problem.' And if they don't stop it, you just sink all their boats."