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Paul formally launches presidential bid
03.12.07|My San Antonio

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas formally announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination Monday saying people want to hear his libertarian message of limited government — and he's willing to deliver it.

Paul also announced he will seek re-election to an 11th term in Congress under Texas state law that allows candidates to run for more than one federal office.

The Texas congressman made the announcements during a televised interview on C-SPAN's Washington Journal program.

Paul said he has raised more than $500,000 on the Internet for the race and was surprised by the support he has received.

"A lot of people want to hear my message,'' Paul said. "I am willing to deliver it."

This will be the second presidential bid for Paul, 71, who ran as a Libertarian in 1988. He placed third with 0.5 percent of the vote.

A staunch critic of the Iraq war, Paul derided government wasteful spending in that war-torn country during the half-hour television program. He also criticized federal efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Paul derided the federal government handouts after the devastating storm and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's handling of the cleanup and aftermath, which hundreds of house trailers to Louisiana, many that were unused and left to rot.

"So often, FEMA gets in the way,'' Paul said.

Paul said he was running for the GOP presidential nomination to restore the Republican Party – which he said has become the party of big government – and return to a non-interventionist foreign policy.

"The American people are sick and tired of what they are getting," Paul said. "I'm confident the Republican Party has gone in the wrong direction.''

A medical doctor, Paul has delivered more than 4,000 babies and is a pro-life candidate. He also supports medicinal marijuana and has argued for a repeal of America's drug war laws.

He opposes federal funding of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, and argues for a return to the gold standard.

As a congressman, Paul, of Lake Jackson, represents the upper Texas Coastal Bend region, which stretches from Galveston to Port Aransas and includes the city of Victoria.

He was elected to a 10th term in Congress last November with 60 percent of the vote.

Paul set up a presidential exploratory committee in January and spent three days in New Hampshire last month to gauge support for a presidential bid.

He said he was encouraged by the enthusiasm, and has planned trips to Iowa and Arizona, where other early presidential contests will be held in 2008.

His campaign filed the paperwork Monday with the Federal Election Commission, making him a candidate for the GOP nomination.

"Congressman Paul has a long and consistent record of a true conservative,'' said Kent Snyder, a campaign spokesman, "a record we are eager to put against any candidate for the Republican nomination.''

Republican congressional colleagues have given Paul the moniker of "Dr. No'' for his consistent votes against spending bills.

Paul's lack of popularity in Congress is offset by a national following that adheres to his strict interpretation of the Constitution and libertarian leanings against big government and federal interference in people's daily lives

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