Ron Paul ends his campaign, praises Bob Barr

AJC ^ | 6/13/08 | staff

[pissant]

AUSTIN, Texas — Republican Ron Paul ended his rebel campaign Thursday night and announced a new effort to help elect libertarian-leaning Republicans to public office around the country.

"With the primary season now over, the presidential campaign is at an end. But the larger campaign for freedom is just getting started," Paul told supporters in a letter posted on the website of the new group, Campaign for Liberty.

"We will be a permanent presence on the American political landscape," added Paul, who announced his move during a rally coinciding with the Texas GOP State Convention in Houston. "That I promise you. We're not about to let all this good work die. To the contrary, with your help we're going to make it grow - by leaps and bounds."

The 72-year-old Texas congressman won 24 delegates during the Republican primaries, but was the last remaining challenger to John McCain, the party's presumptive nominee.

Paul has said he won't endorse McCain, but in an interview with CNN earlier Thursday, Paul had nice things to say about Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia who is the Libertarian Party's nominee. Barr "talks our language,

[pissant]

Any comment from the boys on the SCOTUS ruling?

[Moose4]

At this point, I’m honestly surprised the Republican Party doesn’t kick him out and withdraw all funding from his Congressional campaign. He shouldn’t be forced to endorse McCain, but if he endorses another party’s candidate for President, I have to wonder why the suits in Washington don’t tell him to go get his campaign money from the LP instead. As much cred and name recognition as he has in his district, he could easily win it running on the LP ticket...and probably get about as much done in Congress.

}:-)4

[Brilliant]

Barr gets Paul’s praise. Not sure if he really wants it.

[Moose4]

Addendum: I’d rather see Paul stay in the Republican Party, personally. I don’t agree with him on foreign policy, and he served as nutburger bait during his Presidential campaign, but it’s good for the GOP to have somebody in there proclaiming a libertarian way of thinking. At least he gets the ideas out in front of people.

}:-)4

[no dems]

Ron Paul praises Bob Barr, eh? Well, Bobby, you have your VEEP running mate.

[Geezerette]

Bob Barr has my vote. No way would I vote for "Arizona's Own" ... my vote here in AZ won't matter anyway, as this state (which used to be Conservative) has so many McCainiacs that will do it for him.

g in AZ

[PastorTony]

According to the article he said $34 million on his own. How much funding is the RNC giving him? Also is there anything in the Texas GOP rules that state a party member can be kicked out for endorsing a candidate from another party?

[Dead Corpse]

For the same reason they keep Snowe, Castle, and Shays. Heck, Dr. Paul’s recent 77% is closely matched by McCain’s most recent 80% and their lifetime ACU ratings are both 82%.