Buddy Roemer Begins Campaign for 2012 Republican Nomination

On Thursday, former Gov. Charles Buddy Roemer of Louisiana launched an exploratory committee for running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

"Today, I am announcing the formation of a presidential exploratory committee, said Roemer. I felt compelled to explore a potential candidacy for president of United States because I've never been more concerned about the future of our representative democracy. Our national debt is swallowing the promise of America, wrongly impacting our foreign policy, and robbing a generation of Americans of jobs and opportunity.

Roemer, who was elected to the U.S. House in 1980 as a Democrat before running for governor in 1987 but losing a bid for a second term, took a page from another dark-horse insurgent presidential candidate. Like Jerry Browns bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992, Roemer said he would not accept any contributions of more than $100 and would not accept PAC money.

Washington, D.C., is not up to the task of leadership because it too has become indebted --indebted to special interest money, said Roemer. At a time of national recession, Washington, D.C., never had it so good. Money has washed over it like a tsunami and drowned the voice of the people.

Roemer is not the only Republican presidential candidate in the spotlight. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is expected to launch an exploratory committee later on Thursday.

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