Paul ‘Probably’ Won’t Endorse GOP Nominee (VIDEO)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Let’s just get this out of the way: there is basically no chance that Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) will endorse the eventual GOP nominee.

Appearing on ‘Fox News Sunday,’ Paul was asked by host Chris Wallace if on the “off chance” he doesn’t win the nomination, he would support the candidate that did.

“Probably not, unless I get to talk to them and find out what they really believe in,” Paul answered. The response can be taken as a blow to frontrunner Mitt Romney, who is often accused of taking positions based on the prevailing political winds.

Paul then continued on to list the requirements for his endorsement.

“But if they believe in expanding the wars, if they don’t believe in looking at the Federal Reserve, if they don’t believe in real cuts, if they don’t believe in deregulation and a better tax system, it would defy everything I believe in,” he explained.

In reality, none of the likely GOP nominees meet those requirements, so it seems certain that Paul will keep his endorsement to himself.

The Texan also shot down rumors of a third-party run at the White House, simply stating “That doesn’t make any sense to me–to even think about it, to let alone plan to do that.”

When Wallace pushed the issue, asking why he wouldn’t consider it, Paul shut down the question even more emphatically.

“Because I don’t want to do it,” he said. “That’s a pretty good reason.”

Check out the video below.

Latest Election 2012
1
Show Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: