U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas announced on Tuesday that he is launching an exploratory committee as he prepared another bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
This marks Pauls third attempt at the White House. First elected to the U.S. House in 1976 as a Republican, Paul won the Libertarian presidential nomination in 1988 and placed third in the general election, taking just less than one-half of 1 percent of the popular vote against Republican candidate George H.W. Bush and Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis. Taking less than 2 percent of the vote, Paul came in second in 10 GOP primaries and caucuses and placed third in 17 of them in 2008. With his calls for fiscal restraint and for less American involvement overseas, Paul won the loyalty of many activists who enthusiastically backed his campaign in 2008.
Paul, who had been touring the country, including a stop in Tallahassee last week to promote his new book, announced the formation of the exploratory committee in Iowa, home of the first caucus.
The congressman named his Iowa team on Tuesday. Joining the Paul campaign were new state chairman Drew Ivers who led Pat Robertsons effort in the Hawkeye State in 1988 and Pat Buchanans back in 1996. Both those conservative candidates placed second in the Iowa caucuses. Activists David Fischer and A.J. Spiker also joined the Paul team.
Iowa has a special place in American politics, and Dr. Paul is very pleased to announce the launch of his exploratory committee in the capital of the Hawkeye State, said Jesse Benton, Pauls political director. We are also extremely proud to enjoy the support and leadership of Drew Ivers, David Fischer and A.J. Spiker. All three men are pillars of their communities and leaders of the Republican Party and will be tremendous assets as Dr. Paul makes his final decision about the 2012 presidential campaign.
Paul joins a crowded field of declared and potential candidates and even his son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, had left the door open to take a shot at the Republican presidential nomination --though now, with his father in the race, the newly elected senator from the Bluegrass State is clearly not a candidate.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico, former state Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama, businessman Herman Cain, former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and activist Fred Karger have already announced their candidacies or launched exploratory committees.
Other potential candidates include U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton, Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former New York Gov. George Pataki and businessman Donald Trump.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
