US Presidential Election Candidates

Ron Paul, the maverick Republican candidate has declared that he would not endorse the John McCain, the leading Republican candidate. While it is confirmed that he will not be that he will not be running as a third party candidate, he has also stated that he would not be dropping out of the race for presidentship. He also seems to be tuning down his bid for the Republican nomination.

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Fox News Channel, last week, restricted the number of presidential candidates who were invited to the debates before the New Hampshire primary. Among those left out was Ron Paul— a fact that has angered supporters of the Republican candidate. Fox News cited a space crunch in its studio as the reason for not including Paul in the debate.

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Republican presidential candidate, Ron Paul's stand on many issues deserves praise. There is his campaign against taxes; Paul stands for abolishing Income tax and doing away, completely, with the IRS and the federal reserve. Besides, he has always stood for a non-interventionist foreign policy. He opposed the war in Iraq, and has called for the total withdrawal of troops. Most important, he stands for the reducing the power of the government to control the lives of Americans.

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Ron Paul's growing support, as recorded by various opinion polls, seems due, at least in part, to an increasing disillusionment being felt by the average voter towards most candidates, both Republicans and Democrats. In such a scenario, the American voter may see Paul as a more acceptable alternative.

Paul is a Constitutionalist, who does not believe in voting for anything that is not authorized by the constitution. As a result, he has consistently voted against prickly issues such as the military escalation in Iraq, or federal spending. He has stuck to his pledge of never voting for increase in taxes and advocated abolishing federal income tax. In fact, it his voting record that has earned him the title of 'Dr. No'.

As a qualified obstetrician, Paul believes life begins at conception and maintains a pro-life stand. Nevertheless, he believes decisions regarding maternal and fetal health should be taken at the state level, and that federal bans infringe upon the rights of the states to make laws.

Paul is loyal to the creed of 'principled libertarianism', with its firm belief in a smaller, less intrusive system of government that would enable citizens to live and seek fulfillment according to their choice. His call for constitutionally limited government has been well received. The views he holds may be working in Paul's favor. At a time when there is a perceivable shift in trend towards a libertarian ethos, Paul's candidature seems to be sending the right signals.

Republican Ron Paul is once again in the race for president. He ran earlier in 1988, and managed to garner almost 400,000 votes. What are the strong points in his campaign?

Paul enjoys a wide support base, including libertarians, conservative Republicans, and some anti-war Democrats. The former flight surgeon has built up a reputation for integrity. He is believed to always cast his vote to uphold the constitution, something that is rare in today's politics.

Paul voted against the war in Iraq, stating that such a war would not be constitutional. This comes in sharp contrast to most other politicians, republicans and democrats, who not only supported President Bush's call for war on Iraq, but favored continuance of troop presence in that country.

Going on to other issues, Paul voted against the Patriot Act. He stands for abolishing income tax and the IRS. He has also opposed controversial trade agreements such as CAFTA and FTAA. He has opposed the Bush government's war on drugs, advocating that decisions with regard to the use of medical marijuana should be left to individual states. He also supports the freedom of the internet.

However, Paul comes across as weak on certain other important key issues. He rejects the idea that that climate change is a result of human activity, and consequently, his campaign is weak on an environmental policy. He has voted for offshore drilling, as well as drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Besides, he also supports ending subsidies and special benefits to energy companies. Paul has also come under criticism for holding racist views.