Ron Paul Basically Admits That It’s Over

Ron Paul announced today that he would not be engaging in any further campaigning in states where primaries are still going to be held:

Texas Rep. Ron Paul said on Monday he will no longer be actively campaigning in the GOP presidential primaries but won’t formally suspend his campaign. Instead, the libertarian candidate’s organization will continue to accumulate delegates to send to the Republican National Convention.

“Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process. We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future,” said a statement from Paul that was distributed by his campaign. “Moving forward, however, we will no longer spend resources campaigning in primaries in states that have not yet voted. Doing so with any hope of success would take many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have.”

Paul’s advisers and his campaign itself had wavered in recent months about what they were hoping to achieve by remaining in the 2012 race despite not having won a single primary state. In March, campaign manager Jesse Benton said he was hoping for a brokered convention in Tampa, but it was a goal the congressman rejected in a recent interview with CNN. He may be working to build a base for his son, Rand Paul, a Kentucky senator.

Here’s the complete statement:

“As I reflect on our 2012 Presidential campaign, I am humbled by the supporters who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much. And I am so proud of what we have accomplished. We will not stop until we have restored what once made America the greatest country in human history.

“This campaign fought hard and won electoral success that the talking heads and pundits never thought possible. But, this campaign is also about more than just the 2012 election. It has been part of a quest I began 40 years ago and that so many have joined. It is about the campaign for Liberty, which has taken a tremendous leap forward in this election and will continue to grow stronger in the future until we finally win.

“Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process. We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future.

“Moving forward, however, we will no longer spend resources campaigning in primaries in states that have not yet voted. Doing so with any hope of success would take many tens of millions of dollars we simply do not have. I encourage all supporters of Liberty to make sure you get to the polls and make your voices heard, particularly in the local, state, and Congressional elections, where so many defenders of Freedom are fighting and need your support.

“I hope all supporters of Liberty will remain deeply involved – become delegates, win office, and take leadership positions. I will be right there with you. In the coming days, my campaign leadership will lay out to you our delegate strategy and what you can do to help, so please stay tuned.

For Liberty,

Ron Paul.”

According to RealClearPolitics estimates, Paul currently has 99 delegates to Romney’s 949, although as I have noted in a recent post, Paul’s supporters have been engaged in what some are calling a “hijacking” strategy at the convention level in states that held caucuses this year. What these delegates might do at the Republican National Convention is anyone’s guess, although for his own reasons I seriously doubt that Paul would want them to do anything to disrupt the convention if only because of the impact that could have on his son’s political future. This also essentially marks the end of Paul’s political career since, shortly before the start of the Presidential campaign last year, he announced that he would not be running for re-election to Congress.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, US Politics, , , , , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. al-Ameda says:

    He added entertainment value to the debates.
    Vaya con Yellow Brick Road, Ron.

  2. michael reynolds says:

    Think of the cast of characters in this primary. Ron Paul, Herman Caine, Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachman and Newt Gingrich. My God, the entertainment value has never been surpassed. Until elections finally meld with unscripted TV series (a process already well under way) I don’t think we’ll see a better cast.

  3. Markey says:

    My fav republican crackpot..

    *sighs*

  4. David K. says:

    “Our campaign will continue to work in the state convention process. We will continue to take leadership positions, win delegates, and carry a strong message to the Republican National Convention that Liberty is the way of the future”

    Which in plain English translates to: We will continue to manipulate the delegate system to get as many of my followers in place as possible in an underhanded attempt to try and create a brokered convention, ignorning the actual will of the people who participated in the system in the first place. Liberty, if its under my leadership , is the way of the future.

    I used to at least respect Ron Paul, but not anymore.

  5. Hey Norm says:

    Gary Johnson:

    “…You can’t suspend liberty…The Ron Paul revolution must continue, whether he is actively campaigning or not. His message must be a part of the conversation leading to November. Millions of Americans, particularly young Americans, are energized by Congressman Paul’s challenge to the status quo, and I am confident that energy will only build in the weeks and months ahead. And as much as the business-as-usual political elite would like to do so, you can’t put a lid on the enthusiasm and commitment Ron Paul and his supporters bring to the process. Whether it is at the Republican Convention or at the polls in November, the revolution Ron Paul has ignited will be seen and heard in the months ahead. I will continue the Ron Paul Revolution…”

    You go girl.

  6. WR says:

    @Hey Norm: Yes, got to love the enthusiasm of commitment of a bunch of permanent adolescents who demand the liberty to let poor people die because they can’t get or afford health care.

  7. Tsar Nicholas says:

    @michael reynolds: Hell, Michael, that cast was nothing. I’ll see it and I’ll raise it one. Let’s assume Obama as expected wins reelection. The GOP slate in 2016 in that event might look a bit like this: Palin, Bachmann, Scott, DeMint and, yeah, you guessed it, Rand Paul! With the Romney role being played by someone like Bobby Jindal or perhaps Mitch Daniels. Then there’s Chris Christie. He might play a Jeckyll & Hyde or a Phantom hybrid role, straddling the line between the sentient establishment candidate and the fringe nutter candidate.

    For the GOP the 2016 primary cycle might make 2012’s look pretty.

  8. al-Ameda says:

    @Tsar Nicholas:

    For the GOP the 2016 primary cycle might make 2012′s look pretty.

    Rand Paul, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann?
    God, I hope so.

  9. Tsar Nicholas says:

    @al-Ameda: You like that one, huh? Me too. The same way in which once upon a time I liked watching demolition derbies or hockey brawls after, you know, getting blitzed. In any case, the scary thing for us over here on the dark side is that if Romney loses that actually could be the 2016 GOP candidate field. Yikes!

  10. michael reynolds says:

    @Tsar Nicholas:
    You’d still need someone to equal the sheer bizarreness of the gospel-singing, skirt-chasing pizza magnate. Has anyone asked Britney Spears what party she belongs to?

  11. Davebo says:

    You’d still need someone to equal the sheer bizarreness of the gospel-singing, skirt-chasing pizza magnate.

    Two words… Charlie Sheen.

  12. michael reynolds says:

    @Davebo:
    Oh my God, yes!