GOP Congressman Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) has announced he is forming an exploratory committee for a possible presidential run in 2012.
Paul’s district includes the western portion of Fort Bend County.
The maverick Republican made the announcement this week in front of about 60 supporters at an Iowa hotel.
In making the announcement, Paul said he expects to make the final decision to run very soon.
“I would be very surprised if I don’t make that decision in the month of May,” Paul said.
He also signaled much of this focus of his campaign will be on the nation’s economy, warning the nation was on track for a financial meltdown.
“They still don’t have enough money in Washington. They get into trouble and they massively print up money,” Paul said. “They are perpetuating the same habits that gave us our last crisis.”
Paul made his announcement in Iowa because that state’s Feb. 6 caucuses are among the first in the presidential election season.
The formation of an exploratory committee allows potential candidates to raise and spend money in preparation for a presidential run.
Paul joined a growing list of GOP contenders that already include Atlanta businessman and former Godfather Pizza CEO Herman Cain, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination in 2008.
If he ultimately runs, Paul is expected to receive strong support from Tea Party Republicans.
According to a 1998 study published in the “American Journal of Political Science, Paul had the most conservative voting record of any member of Congress since 1937. A 2010 poll conducted by the Rasmussen Reports among likely voters found Paul and President Barack Obama to be statistically tied in a hypothetical 2012 presidential election.
Paul has run for president twice before.
In 1988, he was the Libertarian Party candidate, appearing on the ballot in 46 states and the District of Columbia. He received 432,179 votes for 0.5 percent of the total.
He also ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008.
An informed voter doesn’t vote party he votes for the most qualified candidate. The uninformed brought us the current disaster in the WH.
and the “informed” includes palin and responsible Americans should vote for her to replace an aging American Hero? McCain won until “the palin decision” hit the news. i don’t enjoy the current WH, however if “disaster” means continuing all of the previous administration’s policies (which is all he has done so far) then I guess you didn’t like Bush either. This is because they are the same party with different lies to get elected. The devil has many names, faces, and lies to get us all to the same end
“The devil has many names, faces, and lies to get us all to the same end”
watches kaiser roll shoot himself in the foot again.
So you vote straight party, rather than vote for the individual?
I vote for a thrid party or bust right down the ticket. prefer libertarian, but any thrid party available will do for my middle-finger to the demopublican party.
I wish he would run as a Libertarian as I refuse to vote for either major political party. The greatest deception on the American People is making them believe that democraps and republickinbalz are actually different political parties. They both do exactly the same things when it comes down to legislation, leadership, morality, and freedoms. Do yourself a favor and pull the third lever for none of the above when it comes to these two major jakough political parties.
What, are you retarded? You won’t vote for the guy if he runs on the GOP ticket? Did it ever occur to you that that’s the only way he could possibly win? I’ve got news for you, the majority of people in this nation do not identify themselves as libertarians. They either share our values but are politically undereducated, or they are simply not right wing. Congressman Paul gaining the Republican nomination would be the best thing for both libertarians, and the republican party. We get a solid shot at getting a true libertarian, small government, patriot in the white house, while the GOP gets a leader who will start to get the party refocussed on its traditional conservative values. From the sound of things though, you would rather have hime run on a third party ticket where he won’t have a chance in hell…all to make some stupid point about how you hate the two major parties. That’s smart…pull your head out of your backside, dweeb.
yeah you’re right, I will vote for both major parties from now on. I think what convinced me the most was your bullying name calling. After I pulled my head out of my backside I realized how smart you are and how my comment made me look like whatever names you called me. Please just don’t hit me! have you been a bully all your life or just on the computer?
quit whining
so you and molonlabe enjoy doubling-up to bully people? does it make you feel good to treat people this way?