Buddy Roemer Weighs in on Not Making Florida Primary Ballot

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana issued a statement late Tuesday about the fact he will not be on the Florida Republican presidential primary ballot.

"It is not only disheartening, but it is truly disappointing that the greatest nation on earth, the model for all democracies abroad, still selects their president through a shady, archaic and behind-closed-doors system, said Roemer. The Florida state GOP chairman has arbitrarily, and single-handedly, decided to exclude me from the Florida GOP presidential primary ballot. He can list off all the reasons that are convenient for him, but he cannot say my poll numbers in Florida were not good enough.

According to the latest American Research Group poll, I am tied with Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman and ahead of Gary Johnson in Florida. I am also within a few points of Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry. Keep in mind the rest of the field has been in eight or nine debates already, added Roemer. I still plan on competing in Florida and the rest of the states and territories where I will not appear on the ballot. People are hungry for reform, and I am not going to let one person or two parties get in the peoples' way."