Ron Paul ends active campaigning but will continue to run for GOP nod

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Published time: May 14, 2012 18:49
Edited time: May 14, 2012 22:49

Congressman Ron Paul has announced that he will no longer be using resources to campaign in primary states, instead focusing all of his efforts on delegate-selection events as he vows to continue to vie for GOP nomination for presidential candidate.

Rep. Paul (R-Texas) issued a statement on his official website on Monday announcing that he will immediately begin to concentrate on collecting delegates at state conventions in lieu of traditional campaigning in states where he will have to compete in GOP presidential primaries.

"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," reads the statement.

"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.”

Following the bowing out of Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in recent weeks, Rep. Paul has become the most likely opponent to Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in terms of taking the GOP nomination. Both men are vying for the Republican Party’s nod so that they can challenge incumbent President Barack Obama during this November’s election.

In Monday’s statement, Paul suggests that by continuing to accumulate delegates, he stands to give Romney a run for his money come the RNC later this summer in Tampa, Florida.

Paul says he will continue to try to accumulate delegates, a strategy that has been considered unorthodox by many but has so far proved to be mostly successful.

“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,” says the congressman.

CNN reports that, as of April 1, the Ron Paul for President campaign has roughly $1.8 million in the bank—quite an accomplishing statistic given that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suspended his campaign while $4.5 million in debt.

Last month Paul’s campaign manager, Jesse Benton, told reporters, "I am not going to try to deceive you, and say that Romney doesn't have some advantages…But until he has 1,144 delegates, we are going to press on with our campaign."