Texas congressman Ron Paul on Monday formally stepped away from actively campaigning for a job he probably always has known he'll never hold -- president of the United States.
The 76-year-old libertarian from Texas has a fervent following but, as he wrote in an email to his supporters, not the "many tens of millions of dollars" that would be necessary to win the battle against presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
Paul still holds the votes of about 100 of the approximately 2,200 delegates expected in Tampa, Fla., for the August GOP convention.
He has said he will continue to work to acquire delegates.
He is to be commended for consistently pressing campaign conversations on the issues, defending his positions and adding a measure of credibility and stability to the race.