Third wheel: Paul pushes minor-party candidates, refuses to endorse McCain

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul may have felt like a "party of one" as a Republican presidential candidate, but he is encouraging voters to support four minor party presidential candidates instead of Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. At a National Press Club press conference Wednesday, Paul said voters should consider Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party, Bob Barr of the Libertarian Party, Independent candidate Ralph Nader or Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party.

Paul's support for third party candidates stems from his frustration that voters have to choose from the "lesser of two evils" in presidential match-ups, the consequence he said of minor party candidates being left out of the presidential debates.

"This is a tragedy," Paul said of the current process. He proposed that any candidate who qualifies to be on enough state ballots should be allowed to participate in the debates.

He said "no" when former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm (R-College Station) called him Tuesday, asking him to endorse McCain. He said doing so would upset the legions of supporters who rallied around his campaign for libertarian-minded principles. Paul rejected the premise that McCain "would do a little less harm than the other candidate."

"We just don't need to do that anymore," Paul told reporters.

Paul described presidential elections as a "charade," a charge he repeated again in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Wednesday afternoon. Paul told Blitzer McCain "doesn't represent anything I believe in." He added he didn't see any difference between either of the two major party presidential candidates.

In the interview, Paul, a physician from Lake Jackson, also clarified why he would support a candidate like Nader, whose progressive policy positions differ dramatically from his own. While he is not likely to vote for Nader, Paul said he is supporting him and the three other candidates to reform the electoral process and help them get their voice heard.

Barr, who did not attend Paul's press conference, held his own press conference following Paul's at the National Press Club. He also asked Paul to be his running mate on Tuesday. Paul, the 1988 Libertarian Party presidential nominee, declined Barr's invitation.