==2008 Presidential Campaign==
Paul formally declared his candidacy for the 2008 Presidential election on 12 March 2007 as a guest on [[Washington Journal]] on [[C-SPAN]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA031207.paul2008.EN.74141d9.html | title = Paul formally launches presidential bid | first = Gary | last = Martin | work = San Antonio Express-News | accessdate = 2007-03-13}}</ref><ref>[http://chbn.com/Clip.aspx?key=1CD9E3A0397BCBEC Ron Paul announcing candidacy on C-SPAN]</ref> In regards to his candidacy, he had a 30-minute interview with online political analyst [[James Kotecki]] regarding foreign policy, Congress and the Constitution, and personal liberties.<ref>[httphttps://www.youtube.com/jameskotecki James Kotecki interviews Ron Paul]</ref>
Paul participated (along with nine other Republican presidential candidates) in the [[Ronald Reagan Presidential Library]]'s 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate on May 3, 2007. Ron Paul finished first in the MSNBC poll following the GOP primary debate with 43 percent—beating second place [[Mitt Romney]] by 5 percentage points.[http://www.ronpaul2008.typepad.com/]
As 2012 approached, there was speculation as to whether Paul would run as a Republican candidate or a third party candidate. This was in the context of a larger struggle within the Republican Party between an emerging [[Tea Party]] element and a more moderate Republican establishment. Paul had gained a dedicated following among the Tea Party, idealistic young people and libertarians, and needed to translate that support into an effective Presidential campaign. Paul also had to navigate between the expectations of his supporters, his strategic objectives and the possibilities that the Republican establishment could harm the future career of his son, Senator [[Rand Paul]].
Leading up to the campaign, Paul appeared in the 2010 [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC) straw poll. Paul won the poll, defeating Mitt Romney, who had won it the previous three years.<ref name=CPAC>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/20/conservatives.meeting/index.html |title=Rep. Ron Paul surprise winner of CPAC presidential straw poll |publisher=CNN |date=February 21, 2010| accessdate=September 18, 2012}}</ref> Paul also won the 2011 CPAC straw poll with 30 percent of the vote. Following that, he also won the paid, online Arizona Tea Party Patriots straw poll on February 28, 2011 with 49% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20037196-503544.html |title=Ron Paul and Herman Cain lead the pack in Tea Party Patriots straw poll |publisher=CBS News |accessdate=September 18, 2012 | date=February 28, 2011}}</ref>
In February 2011, Paul asked supporters to donate to his Liberty Political Action Committee to fund trips to explore a possible 2012 presidential candidacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libertypac.com/2011/02/23/dr-paul-thanks-grassroots-for-president%E2%80%99s-day-money-bomb/ |title=Dr. Paul Thanks Grassroots for President's Day Money Bomb |publisher=Liberty.pac |accessdate=Septmeber 18, 2012| date=February 22, 2011}}</ref> On April 14, 2011, Paul's spokesman, Jesse Benton, announced that Paul had formed a "testing-the-waters" organization, stating, "He remains undecided on what his plans will be, but as a final decision draws closer, his team has put the pieces in place for him to flip a switch and hit the ground running if he decides to run for president."<ref>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/14/ron-paul-2012-presidential-exploratory_n_849144.html |title=Ron Paul 2012 Presidential 'Testing The Waters' Organization Launches |work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=September 18, 2012 |date=April 14, 2011 |first=Elyse |last=Siegel}}</ref> Paul announced the formation of an [[exploratory committee]] in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], [[Iowa]] on April 26 aimed at seeking the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42770196/ns/politics-decision_2012/ |title= Ron Paul kicks off exploratory committee for 2012 bid |publisher=msnbc.com |accessdate=September 18, 2012 | date=April 26, 2011}}</ref><ref name=thehill>{{cite news |url=httphttps://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/157817-ron-paul-officially-announces-2012-exploratory-committee |title=Ron Paul officially announces 2012 presidential exploratory committee |work=The Hill|accessdate=September 18, 2012 | date=April 26, 2011}}</ref> On May 5, 2011, Paul participated in a debate in [[Greenville, South Carolina]] sponsored by Fox News with four other possible Republican candidates.<ref name=election-news>{{cite web | url=http://uselectionnews.org/foxsc-debate-features-just-5-of-2012-gop/853203/ | title=FOX/SC Debate Features Just 5 of 2012 GOP | author=Taylor, Alexandra | date=May 5, 2011 | accessdate=September 18, 2012}}</ref>
On May 13, 2011, in [[Exeter, New Hampshire]], Paul announced his decision to seek the Republican nomination in the 2012 election on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Good Morning America]]'' program.<ref>[http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/13/breaking-rep-ron-paul-announces-third-bid-for-presidency/ Rep. Ron Paul announces candidacy for president]. CNN. May 13, 2011, Retrieved September 18, 2012.</ref> On July 12, 2011, Paul announced that he will not seek another term as the Representative of Texas's 14th District to focus on his presidential campaign.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dave Cook |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0712/Ron-Paul-says-he-s-all-in-for-the-presidency-won-t-run-again-for-Congress |title=Ron Paul says he's all in for the presidency, won't run again for Congress |work=Christian Science Monitor|date=July 12, 2011 |accessdate=September 18, 2012}}</ref>
===2012 Republican Convention===
Because Romney won on the first ballot, the exact number of Paul delegates will never be known. However, Paul did receive 190 delegate votes at the convention.<ref>{{cite web|title=Complete 2012 RNC Delegate Roll Call Vote Results|url=http://ingotnews.com/post/30435195767/complete-2012-rnc-delegate-roll-call-vote-results|publisher=http://ingotnews.com|accessdate=September 18, 2012}}</ref> Because Paul did not gain at least a majority of the delegations of five states, his name was not formally placed into nomination, and he was not scheduled to speak at the convention. Instead, he organized a rally on the Sunday before the Convention at the [[University of South Florida]] Sun Dome for his delegates and supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ronpaul2012.com/2012/08/21/ron-paul-pre-rnc-event-to-assemble-champions-of-constitutional-conservatism/|title =Ron Paul Pre-RNC Event to Assemble Champions of Constitutional Conservatism|publisher = ronpaul2012.com|accessdate=September 18, 2012}}</ref> Paul declined to endorse Romney - Ryan Republican ticket, saying that he was as yet undecided and leaving open the possibility that he would consider endorsing Libertarian candidate [[Gary Johnson]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Weinger|first=Mackenzie|title=Ron Paul: I'm an 'undecided' voter|url=httphttps://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80301.html|newspaper=Politico|date=August 28, 2012}}</ref> His delegates sought to include a provision in the Republican Party platform for the auditing of the [[Federal Reserve]].
==Ron Paul Quotes==
==Videos==
*[httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lQQ--ju7Vxk Ron Paul on [[Larry McDonald]]]
==References==
* [http://www.counterpunch.org/paul03182004.html The Broadcast Indecency Act, An Indecent Attack on the First Amendment] by Ron Paul
* [http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2002/cr062702.htm Is America a Police State?], speech before the U.S. House of Representatives on June 27, 2002
* [httphttps://www.youtube.com/user/rescueKAL007#p/c/FD3DE4F0642C350C/0/1c8v-kgLvhM Ron Paul's introduction to Video of Cong.[[Larry McDonald]] on ''Crossfire'' made a few months before Larry McDonald went down with [[Korean Airlines Flight 007]] brought down by the Soviet Union in 1983]
===Positions and Quotations===