Buddy Roemer Will Stay in the GOP Race But Will Skip S.C. and Florida

While he had been focusing on the New Hampshire primary, where he took less than 1 percent of the vote last week, former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana said on Tuesday that he intends to stay in the race for the Republican presidential nomination -- but hes looking at Michigan and Arizona instead of South Carolina and Florida. Roemer is also running for the Americans Elect nomination.

We are proud of what weve been able to accomplish in New Hampshire, Roemer said in a statement on Tuesday. More and more people are starting to think differently about politics, and about the way we choose our president. Weve done it with not one campaign contribution above $100, no PAC money, reporting every penny, and without succumbing to the hidden, immoral allure of the super PACs with their unlimited and undisclosed resources."

This is only the beginning.Our friends across the country are joining us online, and our social media presence keeps growing by the day.We had our best week of the campaign last week, measured by social media and by money raised, Roemer added. To be sure, its disappointing that we wont be competing in South Carolina and Florida. What kind of a democracy do we live in when it costs $35,000 to get on the ballot in one state, and the state GOP chairman has complete control over who can and cannot compete in another?

Were on to Michigan and Arizona, to keep spreading our message and recruiting new supporters. In Michigan, well talk about how money in politics kills job creation. In Arizona, well discuss immigration issues and the effect of money on citizenship. But as we grow, we will stay true to our word. We will prove to the pundits that it can be done, with honesty and integrity, Roemer continued. Weve only just begun. What is obvious to everyone now was obvious to us more than a year ago -- this system is corrupt and must be cleaned up or we will never have tax reform, budget reform, affordable health-care reform, immigration reform, bank reform, regulatory balance, trade reform, real jobs growth, or energy independence. Right now, the special interests run government -- you dont.We can change all that."