Paul to pull plug on campaign, launch new effort

Ron Paul will officially end his rebel Republican presidential campaign tonight and announce at a rally outside the Texas state GOP convention that he is turning his attention to a new group, The Campaign for Liberty, that will support libertarian-minded Republicans run for local office.

"With the primary season now over, the presidential campaign is at an end. But the larger campaign for freedom is just getting started," Paul tells supporters in a letter posted on the website of the new group.

"We will be a permanent presence on the American political landscape," the letter continues. "That I promise you. We’re not about to let all this good work die. To the contrary, with your help we’re going to make it grow – by leaps and bounds."

Campaign spokesman Jesse Benton told the Associated Press that the move was "not a disappointment at all. I think this is really exciting."

The 72-year-old Texas congressman won only 24 delegates during the Republican primaries, but was the last remaining challenger to John McCain, the party's presumptive nominee. Paul has said he won't endorse McCain, and Benton said that was unlikely to change.

But in an interview with CNN this morning, Paul had nice things to say about Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia who is now the Libertarian Party's nominee.

“[Barr] talks our language, so I do really believe that he can have a very positive effect in this campaign and let the people know that limited government is a very, very important message," Paul said.

Paul's diehard supporters have been flooding state conventions across the country, trying to build enough backing to win him a speaking slot at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul and a say on the party platform.

In his letter, Paul confirmed plans for a counter-rally during the convention and said he hoped to draw 11,000 people.