presidential campaign ron paul presidential campaign began early congressman texas announced candidacy presidential nomination joined party leaving republican_party reagan administration handling federal budget ran platform included non foreign conflicts illegal drugs federal level return gold standard abolition reduction government spending paul defeated native american activist seattle win party presidential nomination representative selected running mate year campaigning nominee paul received little media coverage excluded presidential debates election day ballot states district_of_columbia finished place approximately vote democratic candidate winner vice president background paul elected texas 22nd congressional district republican special election early supported ronald_reagan presidential bid year paul lost bid election late elected seat time office paul followed political economic advocate gained reputation voting legislation felt unconstitutional advanced legislation establishing term limits opposed implementation military draft serving terms paul republican_party nomination texas gained reputation adept fundraiser defeated primary returned practice january paul officially left republican_party run nomination disillusioned spending policies reagan administration republican presidential nominee leaving party paul remarked ronald_reagan given deficit times greater democrats didn month realize changes courted paul previous years campaign developments nomination campaign announced candidacy presidential nomination february party san_francisco california announcement speech paul commented big government running away freedom money republicans blame democrats later proclaimed choice freedom according paul leaders notified little opposition run party september national convention paul campaigned nomination traveling numerous state conventions visited pennsylvania april discuss platform students native american activist challenger paul russell means appeared event means officially announced presidential nomination candidacy day paul means received heightened media attention comments native americans reports news media circulated highlighted paul calls nation return diminish power paul means described members right left wing respectively june paul appearing speaking events vice presidential candidate previously served member pair campaigned idaho paul remarked win white house distant future paul traveled west address officials washington oregon end month paul raised campaign convention approached paul seven candidates party nomination means candidates mentioned press speculation chosen compromise candidate surrounded event attendees expected formally called culture freedom conference presidential convention held september seattle washington candidacy seen problematic party long support freedom choice opponents native american activist emphasized pro choice abortion issue forum held prior nomination means dismissed greater funds raised paul campaign commenting means receiving times press congressman times effective candidate expressed desire agents paul nominated ballot votes cast closest opponent means receiving votes accepted nomination thanked delegates wife carol chosen vice presidential nominee general election campaign paul returned campaign trail entered general election stretch campaign year ahead nominees major parties traveled universities held press conferences filmed minute television advertisement shown small states cable television help spread message focused gaining support win place sponsored presidential debates spreading message paul held numerous press conferences montana pushed reagan administration balance budget cut spending taxes argued reagan campaign promise balance budget resulting voter dissatisfaction paul stated treasury secretary removed office administration monetary policy paul featured november issue texas monthly article compared campaign senator note paul opposition cia assistance nicaragua journalist described paul supporters coalition activists tax rebels anti war types gold bugs anti establishment single issue voters curtis noted paul monthly newsletter ron paul investment letter subscribers paid annual fee paul traveled rome georgia appeared downtown november appearance policies commenting difference major parties supported intervention overseas personal lives marketplace paul went compare ideology mindset founding fathers month vice presidential nominee traveled texas discussed paul campaign prospects opined ticket possibly win million votes following year election paul win selected democratic republican presidential nominees respectively explained america want preacher president chance candidates named party representative unlikely point election campaign priorities securing place ballot states campaign paul arrived north florida campaign event early january months remaining election event chronicled journalist compared paul remarked gives chance president greater journalist paul described slim attractive articulate candidate dismissed media political positions support hard drugs paul visited trip gave campaign speech students auditorium hall later month left florida campaigned iowa spoke february received endorsement congressman endorsed comedian talk host david_letterman psychologist icon held fundraiser paul paul received little media attention early stages democratic republican primary contests vice president massachusetts governor secured respective parties nominations mentions paul increased noted bush unacceptable conservatives turn likely vote paul protest time publications started discussed paul tax policy called flat income tax rate earnings annually paul sold tax plan campaigning utah people hailed california passage proposition starting tax revolt sending message country big message country overwhelming passage tax initiatives november paul program road white_house followed different candidates campaign trail june aired paul address july press conference washington lobbying ballot access paul promised president veto spending increases domestic programs military asked reference portrayal party extreme balanced budget paul conceded win election explained votes ticket bigger voice issues american politics disappointed receive vote state weeks later new_york_times discovered members campaign helping candidacy found campaign workers literature michigan criticized bush stated paul carry standard free market paul commented interview paul spent beginning august campaigning home state texas final stages august republicans began argue vote paul vote later month republicans grew weary party vice presidential nominee paul commented like like best explained receiving calls day people interested party large number americans choice paul held rally salt_lake_city drew supporters proclaimed wouldn surprised got vote utah october campaign secured ballot access states district_of_columbia newspapers nation began running editorials letters supporting paul run criticizing low volume media coverage new_york_times chronicled paul campaign late october paul year old son served aide camp interviewed explained paul raised million spent ballot access paul spent month traveling expenses prior election day paul predicted low voter turnout results paul finished place election day far victorious received votes overall vote largest percentage won paul came alaska received washington missed goal showing utah paul received aftermath election paul speculated run president opted instead work campaign year received presidential nomination paul later returned republican_party elected seat congress support establishment republicans supported party switching democratic incumbent congress paul regained nickname favoring free market advocating reduction size federal government drafted challenge president republican chose run ran president republican attracting large support
Ron Paul presidential campaign, 1988