But the Texas congressman can boast of this: He finished third in the presidential popular vote in 1988.

A Libertarian then, Paul got the support of 430,000 people, or about half a percent.

A man who says he won't support any legislation unless it's "expressly authorized" in the Constitution, he advocates sharply limited government and lower taxes and opposes the country's present monetary system.

Paul was born in Pennsylvania and spent five years during the Vietnam War as a flight surgeon. After that, he became a practicing physician in an area near Houston and ran for Congress and in 1976. He won the race and served until 1984, when he lost a Senate primary.

Paul returned to Congress in 1996.

He is largely distinguishable from the Republican presidential field in that he opposes the Iraq War. Paul said it was sold to the country based on false information.

Paul says his conservative credentials are in ample view given his advocacy for smaller government and lower taxes. He also says he was one of only four congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan's 1976 campaign for the GOP presidential nomination against President Gerald Ford.

Paul has taken an aggressive stand against illegal immigration, going farther than most others in proposing to end citizenship rights for children born in this country to illegal immigrants.

Biography: Quad-City Times | Photo: www.ronpaul2008.com

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