Acknowledging that it would be impossible for him to win the White House, Ron Paul encouraged supporters to continue the "revolution" they started as he signaled the end to his presidential campaign.
The Texas Republican congressman addressed supporters in a 7 1/2-minute video on his campaign Web site. Thursday night.
The video did not explicitly say Paul was dropping from the presidential race, although he acknowledged it is mathematically impossible for the long-shot candidate to overtake John McCain's delegate lead.
"Though victory in the conventional political sense is not available in the presidential race, many victories have been achieved due to your hard work and enthusiasm," Paul said, thanking his supporters. "We must remember elections are short term efforts, revolutions are long-term projects."
In the video, Paul did not use the words "drop out," opting instead to say the campaign is "winding down," and he encourages supporters to still cast votes for him. But he referred to his campaign in the past tense.
Paul encourages supporters to continue "the revolution" but stresses that it cannot simply be about him. He also plugged his new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto.
Internet message boards supporting Paul lit up after release of the video, and many supporters were put off by the suggestion that Paul was dropping from the race.
"Watched the video and nothing about suspending the campaign. Sounds like he still wants to go all the way to the convention with all the delegates possible," wrote one Ron Paul forum user. "So basically it sounds like he just verbalizing what everyone already knows, we're reaching the end of the beginning and he's starting the process of turning the revolution over to the grass roots."
In the video, Paul suggested his supporters gather for a demonstration in Washington, DC, June 21, although he said supporters, not the official, campaign would have to organize the effort.
Acknowledging that it would be impossible for him to win the White House, Ron Paul encouraged supporters to continue the "revolution" they started as he signaled the end to his presidential campaign.
