Ron Paul Won’t Seek Another House Term, Plans to Focus Exclusively on Presidential Bid

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas says he will not seek another term in the U.S. House so that he can focus exclusively on his presidential campaign.

Paul, 75, made the announcement on his Facebook page on Tuesday.  He reiterated his decision to retire from Congress during an interview later in the day with his local newspaper.

“Big news!  I have decided not to seek reelection for my House seat in 2012 and will focus all of my energy winning the presidency,” Paul said.

Paul, who is making his third bid for the White House — and his second as a candidate for the Republican nomination — said that he believes his support is much stronger this time than when he unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in 2008.

The longtime congressman said that he’s already spent twice as much time in the early battleground states of Iowa and New Hampshire than he did in 2008.

News of Paul’s decision not to run for Congress has prompted speculation that he might run as an independent or third-party candidate if he fails to win the Republican nomination next year.  Paul, then a little-known former congressman, was the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee in 1988.