Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder reported this afternoon that actor/former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson called him Thursday afternoon to thank Kinder for his support of Thompson’s possible Republican bid for president in 2008.

“He called me about 5 p.m. at the office, and made the call himself,” Kinder said. “It was like talking to your next-door neighbor.”

Thompson thanked Kinder for his endorsement of what is now just a possible bid for the White House. He then told Kinder that he and his family were “assessing over things and seeing if we can it (a possible bid) to the next level.”

He said that Thompson added that “if and when we decide to do something, I hope you can be there for the launch.”

Kinder said he replied that, schedule permitting, he would be at Thompson’s kickoff.

Political Fix failed to ask if Thompson was calling between takes of his hit show, Law & Order, where he’s the DA.