Ron Paul officially ends presidential bid

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, officially abandoned his campaign to win the 2008 Republican presidential nomination Thursday.

Paul, who ran on a Libertarian platform, stopped campaigning months ago after failing to gain traction in Republican primaries. Before the primaries began, he gained attention by attracting thousands of enthusiastic activists and raising millions of dollars online.

Jesse Benton, a spokesman for Paul, told the Washington Post the congressman is forming a non-profit organization to spread his political views and working to recruit Libertarian candidates for this year's election.

"The presidential campaign was Phase One," Benton said.

He told The New York Times the Campaign for Liberty is Phase Two.

While Paul's organization is non-partisan, Benton said it is more likely to endorse Republicans.

A rally has been planned in Minneapolis on the second day of the Republican convention in September.