The `Law & Order' candidate

TWO ENORMOUS swaths of people are likely to suffer if Fred Thompson decides to run for president: current candidates for the Republican nomination and actors on "Law & Order." The equal-time rule (Section 315 of the Communications Act) calls for comparable TV time for all candidates, which means -- as it did during Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaigns, when California stations couldn't run "The Terminator," and Ronald Reagan's campaigns, when they couldn't run whatever movies Reagan was in -- that Thompson's five years' worth of "Law & Order" episodes could get pulled from syndication. Which means that I too will suffer, because my mom will have seven to 10 more hours each week to call me.

Almost as awful is the fate that would befall Elisabeth Rohm, who co-starred on "L&O" for four years -- three with Thompson -- playing what I'm guessing was a tough-talking prosecutor. Though Rohm's film career is starting to take off, 25% of her salary comes from residuals from the show, which can appear on TNT up to five times a day. She's already thinking of cutting back on "shoes and dogs."

But she's also wondering if the law really needs to be applied to cable reruns. "Now that there are 100 stations, it doesn't seem like being on a show has the same influence. But of course I'm biased since I'd have to give up my Porsche and finally do the ethical thing and get a Prius."

She says Thompson, who once worked at the law firm where her dad is now a partner, is smart, indefatigable, open-minded and a pretty moderate Republican. "I do think he would make a great president. I do. The problem is, I'm not going to vote for him," she said. But if he wins, she's willing to put her party leanings aside and get involved: "I've been wanting to step into the role I've always been meant to have: ambassador to Holland."

Joe Pantoliano, who has appeared in films with Thompson, has similar problems. "The idea that they wouldn't be able to run 'Baby's Day Out' during this period is another patriotic service that Fred would be providing to the country," he said. "But if it meant they couldn't run 'Racing Stripes,' then that would definitely be a financial blow to this family, and we'd have to move into the Lincoln bedroom for the duration of his term."