Paul: Don't count me out
(CNN) - Ron Paul on Monday argued that people should not dismiss his candidacy simply because he lags far behind in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Our people are in the right places. They’re doing the things to become delegates,” Paul said on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight,” adding that it was too soon in the process to “write anybody off.”
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While the Texas congressman has yet to win a contest in the GOP primary, he has so far picked up 71 delegates, according to CNN’s latest estimate. The number puts Paul in a distant fourth place in the delegate count, as front-runner Mitt Romney has 569, Rick Santorum comes in second with 262 and Newt Gingrich has 136 delegates.
Paul has also struggled to break ahead in recent polls, with the latest Gallup daily tracking poll showing him holding relatively steady in last place at 9% among registered Republicans nationwide.
While his unwavering group of strident followers has helped keep his campaign afloat, he reported raising slightly more than one-third of the funds Romney drew in the month of February.
With no one close to collecting the 1,144 delegates needed to secure the nomination, however, Paul said there is still plenty of time for him to make headway in the race.
“What if Romney isn’t the best person?” Paul asked, adding that members of the media were too quick to speculate as to why Paul has not withdrawn. “Why should we just throw in the towel because people like you say, 'Hey, throw in the towel.' ”
Making his case, Paul pointed to states that have yet to hold contests, as well as certain states that have not finalized their delegate counts, and suggested those states may soon plump up his delegate total.
Despite increasing calls by leading Republicans for the party to unite around one candidate, Paul maintained the competition is alive and well.
“There’s a race going on,” Paul said.
Also see:
Santorum: Romney 'worst Republican' to run against Obama
Ryan's open to V.P spot
Graham's 'comfortable' with Romney
Plouffe calls out GOP candidates over Obama reaction
Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here.
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Ron and his Paulbots are the most delusional members of the unhinged GOBP. They plan to take over the convention. Obama/Biden 2012!
He was counted out since 2004 and he seems to have had a talk with Mitt-etch in one of those back rooms.
Poor paul, I guess he has stopped taking his meds. You have been out for months. The only good thing is that you are taking much needed votes from the other clowns.
All he has to do is get 98.3% of the populace not to vote. Then the standard support he garners (5% of the republican vote, 100% of the delusional wacko vote) will be enough to make him president!
Paul is a HUGE disappointment this year, and if he or Rand ends up anywhere near Rmoney in the next few month we'll know the fix is/was in. Paul wasted a perfect opportunity to align himself with America's over-whelming anti-war sentiments by constantly attacking the others over their insanely ill-considered warmongering in the Middle East. Instead, Paul dropped that line of attack like a hot potato and instead focused more on the platform non-GOBP cultists everywhere hate: the Ayn Rand mythology of "free markets" that always morphs into horrible real-time economics when actually attempted. So instead of showing his support for a popular anti-war position, Paul did what every lame GOBP candidate has done for the last 30 years: pay homage to a Land of Make Believe where tax cuts for the wealthy create jobs and more tax revenue. In other words, Paul, like all the rest, chose fairyland over reality. Meet the new boss; same as the old boss.
There’s a race going on,” Paul said.
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There is a race going on, but you can't run.
Ron Paul 2012................“There’s a race going on,”
Rally around this, Paul backers.
To soon to write anyone off? Really? Paul hasn't ever been viable in this race. It makes you wonder what this guy is thinking.
When people put their personal ambitions ahead of their country and their party, we get guys like Ron & Newt and Rick.
This is so rich it's funny. Just because I have never won a single caucus or state in three attempts at the White House, and even though I'm not going to win any states or caucuses in 2012, don't count me out! This silly old man needs to go home and get some rest - and leave the governing of our nation to real politicians like President Obama.
Paul needs to do more than jab at the other candidates. He need to land some heavy punches on front runner Romney before time runs out. Time to run negative ads and personal attacks on Romney and Santorum. Keep it going all the way to the convention.
Don't count me out? I can't stop laughing...............
Ron Paul is my president and has been since 2008. This country is forfiet until the people once more have representation. We are not free.
why should he quit?
if "the party" wants that, let those 3 guys gang up on Ron Paul...then there is absolutely no way Paul would have a chance and he would probably quit. but in order for that to happen, two of them would have to quit and trust the third. and they don't want to do *that*...kk