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Ron Paul Moves on From Presidential Campaign
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ShareMarch 06, 2008 7:33 PM
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: "Elections are short-term efforts," Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, told supporters in a Web video tonight. "Revolutions are long-term projects."
Paul indicated that the 2008 presidential campaign portion of his revolution is over.
An earlier version of this report indicated that Paul would "drop out" of the race. In the video, Paul did not use the words "drop out," opting instead to say the campaign is "winding down," and he encourages supporters to still cast votes for him. But he referred to his campaign in the past tense.
"We are still in the early stages of bringing about the changes that this revolution is all about," Paul said in the video. "Let us hope that we can one day look back and say that this campaign was a significant first step that signaled a change in direction for our country. Our job now is to plan for the next phase."
For Paul, that phase will mean spreading his message beyond the campaign trail. He hopes to create an umbrella organization to stoke some of the grassroots support that made his presidential campaign notable.
The video was briefly available on Paul's Web site and YouTube before being pulled for what the campaign termed "technical difficulties." Officials promised it would be reposted on YouTube. In the meantime, the video could be seen by clicking HERE.
Paul said his revolution is about more than his campaign and more than just him. He also put in a plug for his forthcoming book -- "The Revolution: A Manifesto."
It was a spirited run for Paul, whose followers called their support for him a "revolution" of non-interventionism and small government.
In recent weeks, Paul's campaign had already taken a back seat to his simultaneous bid for re-election to his congressional seat.
Despite a concerned-seeming fundraising blitz toward the end of the Republican primary in Texas, Paul won the party primary for the 14th Texas congressional district by more than 2 to 1. He did not fare so well in the Republican presidential primary in Texas, getting less than 5 percent of the vote and no delegates.
Paul has amassed 14 delegates that he can take to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis in September -- miles short of what was needed to be seen as a contender for the nomination.
Paul ran well outside his party on issues as central as the war in Iraq and civil liberties. His contention that his views were closer to the roots of the Republican Party got some people thinking, but ultimately did not get enough votes.
The Texas congressman, an OB-GYN by trade, can rightly claim his presidential bid, which enjoyed a visible -- if apparently non-voting -- following, and enjoyed several quarters of impressive fundraising, was successful at giving Republicans some pause.
Echoes of his pledge to shut down the IRS could be heard in the campaign of Mike Huckabee, who ran closer to the Republican mainstream on other issues. And as the U.S. economy dips, some may see new light in Paul's criticism of the Department of Treasury and the Federal Reserve for the role they play in inflation.
Ultimately, however, Paul wanted to campaign as a Republican and be, as one aide put it recently, "not entirely quixotic."
Paul has shied away from calls by supporters to run a third party campaign for the presidency. He mounted such a campaign in 1988 when he left the Republican Party to run for president as a Libertarian. But this time, Paul has said that the U.S. political system is too tough a nut to crack for third parties. It takes too much money and organization, he has said, to get on the ballot.
Plus, as he wrote to supporters after trouncing his congressional primary opponent, his job in the Congress is a pretty good one and allows him a soap box from which to preach his small government, libertarian gospel.
"The message of freedom is popular," he wrote on Tuesday night. "And I will continue to trumpet it in Congress and across America as I fight on behalf of the conservative, common-sense values which made our country so great. In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks and gratitude to all of the wonderful people who supported me in this campaign. I look forward to representing all of the good people of the 14th District of Texas in Congress in the years to come."
March 6, 2008 in McCain, John | Permalink | User Comments (154)
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Unfortunately, he's right. As an avid R.P. supporter, it's hard saying this, but the two-party system is so heavily entreanched in America. It's a shame that all the parties promising actual change are shafted through the political process. Ralph Nader, on the Daily Show mentioned that one needs 5,000 signatures of Texans who did NOT vote in the primary to be put on the ballot.
Posted by: Mike | Mar 6, 2008 8:05:30 PM
Let's see: He was against the Civil War, Against WWII, about time to drop! Good riddance!
Posted by: plainsm | Mar 6, 2008 8:06:07 PM
Paul Supporters, you should be congratulated for your passion and your spirit. Let's not give up the fight for restoring core constitutional values in America.All of the superdelegates that are currently pledged to Hillary Rodham Clinton are doing so out of gratitude for the political favors that they received from Bill Clinton's Administration some 16 years ago. This is not what an election is supposed to be. Notice that Hillary has lost dozens of superdelegates in recent months while Obama has gained dozens. Why? Because Barack Obama has built his name from scratch; and that is a very honorable thing.
In the minds of many Hillary supporters, they feel as if they are voting for a third term of William Jefferson Clinton, which is unconstitutional. They are translating their perceptions of Bill’s Administration into what they feel will happen with Hillary as President. However, the differences between the early 90’s and 2008 alone are enormous.
Posted by: Emanuel | Mar 6, 2008 8:07:30 PM
Thank the lord! he is 72 turning 73 in August. He will be freakin 73 when he enters office. Same with Mccain. That is why i am being smart and want OBAMA 08!!!!!!! YEAH!!!! THATS THE WAY TO DO IT NOW!!!! WE NEED A SMART, YOUNG PRESIDENT LIKE OBAMA!! THANK YOU EVERYONE.
Posted by: Caroline | Mar 6, 2008 8:21:00 PM
After Hilliary, Barack or Insane McCain get us into World War III by invading Iran... I will see all of you in the place that will ultimately send us. Then perhaps finally we will be "eternally safe." Enjoy your vote. And remember the role you played in your demise. Let it not be said that you were not warned. Blame not the politicians, for the fault lies with yourselves. Nothing more can be said.
Posted by: cba | Mar 6, 2008 8:26:37 PM
Who on earth wrote this?
Obviously not somebody who understands the rules, or the campaign.
I'll just add this to the long list of reports of the campaign's death.
Posted by: Ball | Mar 6, 2008 8:26:57 PM
Byron Wolf..."Ron Paul is more like a liberal Democrat".....HA HA HA! That is a public display of ignorance.
Posted by: Liberty | Mar 6, 2008 8:28:04 PM
This really should be filed under "bad reporting". All the crap about Ron Paul sounding like a "liberal democrat" or "member of the ACLU" just because he believes in the constitution. Also I call B.S. on the premise of the whole article. So far Ron Paul has never leaked what he was about to do to the MSM. Why on earth would he start now?
And for the idiot that claimed Ron Paul was "against the civil war" so was LINCOLN! Lincoln didn't want to go to war and his letters revealed that he wanted to try the same "compensated emancipation" plan Dr. Paul talked about on Meet The Press.
Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate that could possibly save this country from imminent economic meltdown. Barack is freaking clueless and the media sucks for fawning over him when he blows his nose or when some lovesick college tramp faints at one of his rallies.
Posted by: TheTruth | Mar 6, 2008 8:30:58 PM
America thought he dropped out months ago!!? He was still in the race? Seriously? LOL That is HILARIOUS!!! I GUESS HE CAN NOW GO BACK TO BEING THE NOBODY HE ALWAYS WAS!! LMAO!! ...and his legions of political stalkers can go back to their video games full time now....
Posted by: cheesetopping69 | Mar 6, 2008 8:32:05 PM
The military/industrial/complex owns the mainstraem media and they were ordered by the 'Establishment Elite' to not let the second tier candidates like Paul, Gravel etc. have a voice in their publications. This was very evident during the debates. It's no wonder they have to bow out. The 'EE's main candidate, 'Closet Republican' Hillary Clinton is still in the running and splitting the Democrat Party as she was ordered to do, so the Military/Industrial/Complex can continue on their goal of right-wing world domination.
Posted by: steve | Mar 6, 2008 8:34:15 PM
Ron Paul - some of his policy ideas were batty, but any time I hear a republican talk about the Constitution with reverence, earns respect.
I'm also hoping that since so many new fresh voters have come on the scene, that the chances of at least a third party developing are good. The two party system is broken.
Posted by: NeoFeminist | Mar 6, 2008 8:36:01 PM
I hate to tell you Cheesetoppings, but you really need to keep yourself informed. Oh, by the way John McCain is the Republican nominee, in case you didn't know!
Posted by: steve | Mar 6, 2008 8:37:08 PM
I'm still going to write in Ron Paul on my ballot for the general election. I can't in good conscience vote for anyone else.
GO RON PAUL!!!!
Posted by: dan | Mar 6, 2008 8:46:28 PM
The only revolutionary thing about Ron Paul is that his ideas were all of the pre-industrial revolution era. Such a joke.
And all that granddaddy talk about the Constitution. In compqrison, Obama taught constitutional law for 10 years or so, but he's at least aware that we're living amidst 21st century problems and possibilities.
John McCain won't miss this silly flea, I guess.
Posted by: Linsey Paul | Mar 6, 2008 8:47:03 PM
I am an registered Independant from Arizona and a Vietnam vet. John McCain
scares the bejesus out of me. I can see him squatting on the Iraq war for four more long,costly years. If that happens we will be back in the sixties again. With nobody to blame but ourselves, again.
Posted by: ShadowKnows | Mar 6, 2008 9:02:20 PM
This is a rumor. He is not dropping out.
Posted by: dfw | Mar 6, 2008 9:03:39 PM
What's this? Another media report of Ron Paul dropping out of the race before any official mention from his headquarters. Seems like this has happens a dozen times already. Isn't the MSM supposed to report the news not make it. ABC didn't you say Al Gore was elected president once, or didn't you learn something from that? It's official when it's official.
Posted by: Down with MSM | Mar 6, 2008 9:03:59 PM
Ron Paul seems to me to be one the the very last representatives of the TRUE GOP (pre-Nixon era) left in this country. It is sad that the only thing that remains of the GOP are those who embrace a hard military mindset and divisive pro-corporate eco-unfriendly policies that see income and prosperity as paramount to even the protection of that which sustains life on earth.
Posted by: RW | Mar 6, 2008 9:11:23 PM
To the people who criticize Ron Paul supporters by sarcastically commenting how writing him in "will be one powerful vote" just don't get how the Democratic system works. Are responsibility as Americans when it comes to voting is to vote for the candidate we think would be best in office, not whoever we think is going to win. That's foolish and immature.
Posted by: Wes | Mar 6, 2008 9:13:26 PM
Ron Paul should be commended for making at least part of the electorate think about what is really going on, i.e. what are the root causes of our most serious problems. There are very few honest politicians in our government, but Paul is certainly one of them.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Mar 6, 2008 9:13:37 PM
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