Ron Paul has counter-rally in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Followers of one-time Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul met in Minneapolis Tuesday as a counter-rally to the Republican National Convention.

The Texas congressman's sold-out Rally for the Republic kicked off his "Campaign for Liberty," an effort to support politicians with views similar to his and present his ideas to the public, just across the Mississippi River from the RNC gathering in Minnesota's capital, St. Paul.

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura told the rally's audience he would consider a presidential run in 2012, depending on what he sees after this election.

Ventura said he would watch what happens between now and the next presidential election, then decide "whether it's worth it," the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported.

Paul, meanwhile, did not offer support for his party's all-but-certain presidential nominee, calling John McCain "the lesser of two evils," ABC News reported.

In an interview with CSPAN, Paul said he was remaining a Republican, rather than initiating a third-party presidential run, because he thought he could be more effective to press his views as a major-party member.