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In Ron Paul's congressional district of 15 years, Democrats such as art gallery owner Elisabeth Lanier feel this could finally be their year to take the seat _ and not because of the political climate or how district lines were redrawn.

It's because "Dr. No" is no longer on the ballot.

"I'm sure he's a nice man and so forth," said Lanier, whose Galveston storefront was swamped with seven feet of water during Hurricane Ike in 2008, when Paul absorbed criticism for not doing more for his storm-battered constituents. "But he did virtually nothing and feels that government should do nothing."

Vying to succeed Paul are Republican state Rep. Randy Weber, who has Paul's endorsement, and former Democratic Congressman Nick Lampson, who replaced disgraced House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in his last stint in the U.S. House. It's one of only two competitive congressional races in Texas, though Weber has an edge in the coastal district that leans Republican.

Paul seldom had to worry about losing. He won re-election with at least 60 percent of the vote in his last six tries, including twice when Democrats didn't even bother putting a candidate on the ballot. He announced his retirement from Congress last year before announcing what became his latest failed presidential bid.

So much of a juggernaut was Paul _ and his national legion of supporters who kept his campaign pocketbook flush _ that local Democrats groused about the national party never putting money behind a challenger. Patricia Gray, a former state Democratic lawmaker from Galveston, has recalled party brass telling her that Paul couldn't be beat.

In the 14th Congressional District, Paul was a fixture on the biking trails in his hometown of Lake Jackson, sent cookbooks to his constituents and would sometimes answer the phone in his office. But apart from endorsing Weber, he has kept a low profile this campaign.

With Paul out of the picture, Democrats think their chances have greatly improved. The Democratic National Campaign Committee has given Lampson $5,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Lampson also has outraised Weber, who owns an air conditioning and heating business and has loaned himself $226,500 in the race.

"It may be (Republican-leaning)," Lampson said of the district. "But in the case of the congressional race, with the two people that are in it, I honestly believe it will not perform in that way. I'm different."

The district is different than before, too.

Here is the original post:
Paul's Texas district becomes Election Day fight

Texas Republican congressman Ron Paul pointedly refused to endorse his party's presidential contender, Mitt Romney, arguing that neither he nor President Barack Obama would make necessary cuts to public spending that would avert a fiscal catastrophe.

"No," the iconoclastic Libertarian bluntly told CNBC's "Futures Now," when asked about whether he was prepared to endorse Romney. He accused both the former Massachusetts governor and the president of being captive to similar interests.

"Both within the establishment where they need the Federal Reserve as lender of last resort to make sure that you take all the risk in the world," Paul said. He linked the Fed -- his favorite foil -- and the Washington political establishment together as part of a "one party system" that refuses to make necessary but difficult choices to cut spending.

(Read more: Ron Paul Vows to Continue Campaign Against Status Quo.)

"I've been in this business a long time and believe me there is essentially no difference from one administration to another no matter what the platforms," said Paul, a former hopeful for the GOP nomination. "The foreign policy stays the same, the monetary policy stays the same, there's no proposal for any real cuts and both parties support it."

He cast some doubt that the looming fiscal cliff would have the economic impact many market observers are warning about, adding that Congress and the White House would likely find a way to delay the inevitable cuts in spending and tax hikes.

"They're not going to allow all those terrible things to happen on January 1, but they're not going to solve the problem either," Paul said.

(Read more: US Nears Fiscal Disaster: 'Washington Doing Nothing'.)

The congressman also took aim at one of the main targets of his ire, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. Paul has been a relentless critic of the Fed's monetary policy.

As the central bank launches a third round of indefinite quantitative easing, or QE3, Paul renewed his charge that cheap and indefinite monetary policies would eventually wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. He predicted gold (xau=) would continue to rise while the U.S. dollar (.dxy) would bear the brunt of ultra-loose monetary policy.

See the rest here:
Ron Paul Won't Endorse Romney, Says More of Same

By PAUL J. WEBER Associated Press

LEAGUE CITY, Texas (AP) - 1 of the few competitive Election Day races in Texas is a seat that hasn't been up for grabs in more than a decade: Ron Paul's congressional district.

The former presidential candidate is retiring from Congress after more than 20 years. Most of that was spent representing in the 14th Congressional District, where Republican Randy Weber and Democrat Nick Lampson are vying to become Paul's successor.

Weber is a state lawmaker who burnished a reputation as 1 of the most conservative members in the Texas Legislature. Lampson is trying to return to Congress, and is running as a moderate in a redrawn district that is no longer as firmly Republican.

Paul seldom worried about losing. He was re-elected with at least 60% of the vote his last six tries.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Go here to read the rest:
Ron Paul's district becomes an Election Day fight

Texas Republican congressman Ron Paul pointedly refused to endorse his partys presidential contender, Mitt Romney, arguing that neither he nor President Barack Obama would make necessary cuts to public spending that would avert a fiscal catastrophe.

Photo by Adam Jeffery for CNBC.com

Ron Paul

Both within the establishment where they need the Federal Reserve as lender of last resort to make sure that you take all the risk in the world, Paul said. He linked the Fed his favorite foil and the Washington political establishment together as part of a one party system that refuses to make necessary but difficult choices to cut spending. (Read more: Ron Paul Vows to Continue Campaign Against Status Quo.)

Ive been in this business a long time and believe me there is essentially no difference from one administration to another no matter what the platforms, said Paul, a former hopeful for the GOP nomination. The foreign policy stays the same, the monetary policy stays the same, theres no proposal for any real cuts and both parties support it.

He cast some doubt that the looming fiscal cliff would have the economic impact many market observers are warning about, adding that Congress and the White House would likely find a way to delay the inevitable cuts in spending and tax hikes.

Theyre not going to allow all those terrible things to happen on January 1, but theyre not going to solve the problem either, Paul said. (Read more: US Nears Fiscal Disaster: Washington Doing Nothing.)

The congressman also took aim at one of the main targets of his ire, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke. Paul has been a relentless critic of the Feds monetary policy.

As the central bank launches a third round of indefinite quantitative easing, or QE3, Paul renewed his charge that cheap and indefinite monetary policies would eventually wreak havoc on the U.S. economy. He predicted gold

Eternities with QEs are going to happen, Paul said. Bernanke will destroy the dollar if we dont come to our senses, and really cut spending and live within our means.

Continued here:
Ron Paul Won't Endorse Romney, Cites More of Same