WASHINGTON (CNN) --When saying "I don't think he's a Christian," Dr. James Dobson, the prominent Christian conservative and "Focus on the Family" founder, intended to put a focus on former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson's lack of public expressions of his Christian faith, a Dobson spokeswoman said Thursday.

In an interview with U.S. News and World Report published on its Web site Wednesday, Dobson said of Thompson, "Everyone knows he's conservative and has come out strongly for the things that the pro-family movement stands for. "[But] I don't think he's a Christian; at least that's my impression,"

But a spokesman for the evangelical leader told CNN that "Dr. Dobson appreciates Senator Fred Thompson's solid, pro-family voting record," and that his comments were "attempting to highlight that Sen. Thompson hasn't clearly communicated his religious faith, and many evangelical Christians might find this a barrier to supporting him."

The former Tennessee senator and current "Law and Order" star has caused excitement in some conservative circles after acknowledging earlier this month that he is considering a run for president.

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