Carefully testing the waters of public opinion, Gary Hart addressed more than 150 people Wednesday night, telling them Americans live in a “massively corrupt republic.”

Hart, considering whether to seek the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, said he has not yet made a decision regarding the nomination but will do so by March.

“I think that will depend upon feedback I get when I’m out giving speeches like these,” he said.

Keeping his distance from a nearby podium and speaking completely free of notes, Hart told the crowd in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union “we’re living in an extremely revolutionary time.”

Although Hart spoke on a variety of issues, ranging from the environment to childhood poverty, his address focused mainly on topics related to corruption in government and threats to national security.

Hart said he believes terrorists will not use airplanes if they decide to attack the United States again; rather, they will use biological agents.

“Manhattan is not the only place under attack today,” Hart said. “Ames, Iowa is under attack today. We’re all under attack. Every community in the country is vulnerable [to terrorism].”

Although Hart voiced his concerns about terrorism, he said he opposes utilizing military action in Iraq at this time, arguing the United States could have a possible “Vietnam in the desert in our hands.”

However, Hart said the United States will enter into a military conflict with Iraq. “I would say we’re going to war in Iraq,” he said.

Steve Freeman, sophomore in political science, was one of numerous ISU students who attended Hart’s speech.

“I came because I knew he’s considering running as a democratic candidate in the 2004 election,” Freeman said. “I wanted to hear his views on different issues so I’m more informed when the Iowa caucuses come up.”

Freeman said he believes Hart will run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 because he has run in the past.

Hart, a former Democratic senator from Colorado, was involved in a highly publicized sex scandal during his 1988 presidential campaign and eventually dropped out of the election.

Doug Pepe, a fifteen-year-old freshman from Ames High, wore a T-shirt to Hart’s address that said “No War on Iraq.”

Pepe said he attended Hart’s address because the former senator shares his views about a peaceful solution to the Iraq conflict.

“I’m going to decide tonight whether or not he should run [in the 2004 presidential race],” Pepe said.