Ron Paul Ends Presidential Campaign and starts the "Campaign For Liberty"

[Justin S]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/06/13/ron-pauls-new-campaign-a-potent-force-in-the-fall/

Originally Posted by wsj

Rep. Ron Paul Ended His Presidential Campaign Thursday Night, But The Maverick Texas Lawmaker Who Spurned A Political Movement Vowed To Continue His Efforts Through A New Organization, The Campaign For Liberty.

Ron Paul Addresses Supporters In Houston Thursday. (associated Press)

Paul’s Exit From The Race Was Just A Formality. He Never Had A Shot At The Nomination But His Grassroots Candidacy Cultivated National Interest And Was Fueled By An Online Fund-raising Operation Of Small Donors Who Saw Promise In Paul’s Political Message. A Video Of His Farewell Speech Thursday Night Has Been Viewed Nearly 600,000 Times.

The Texas Lawmaker Is Hoping That Base Will Transfer To His New Political Effort, Whose Mission Is To Elect More Libertarian-minded Candidates, Like Paul, To Office. “we’ll Make Our Presence Felt At Every Level Of Government, Where Just A Few People With Our Level Of Enthusiasm Can Make A World Of Difference. We’ll Keep An Eye On Congress And Lobby Against Legislation That Threatens Us,” Paul Writes On His New Site. “we’ll Identify And Support Political Candidates Who Champion Our Great Ideas Against The Empty Suits The Party Establishments Offer The Public. We Will Be A Permanent Presence On The American Political Landscape. That I Promise You.”

Paul Will Also Be Holding His Own Convention, Of Sorts, During The Republican National Convention In St. Paul, Minn., In Early September. A Sept. 2 Rally Is In The Works At Williams Arena At The University Of Minnesota Where Paul Hopes To Attract 11,000 Attendees.

Supporters In Houston Cheer For Ron Paul Thursday As He Announces He Is Ending His Presidential Campaign And Starting A New Effort To Help Elect Libertarian-leaning Republicans To Public Office. (associated Press)

It’s Also Clear Paul Won’t Be Backing Sen. John Mccain For President. The Two Men Often Sparred At Presidential Debates, Particularly Over Foreign Policy And The War In Iraq Which Paul Consistently Opposed.

Paul Has Shared Kind Words Recently With Libertarian Candidate And Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr. Some Of Paul’s Supporters Would Like To See Paul Join Barr On The Ticket, But Paul Has Said In The Past That He Does Not Intend To Leave The Republican Party.

However, An Endorsement By Paul—or The Fund-raising Support From His Donors—could Give Barr A Boost On The National Stage. So Far, Barr Has Made Little Impression In The National Debate As A Third Party Candidate. But As Political Analyst Rhodes Cook Points Out In Political Perceptions Today, Paul’s Lack Of A Relationship With Mccain Could Hurt The Republican Candidate In The Fall.