GOP's Roemer Mounts Indie Run

A GOP candidate is dropping out of the presidential primary race—not that most people ever knew he was in it. Buddy Roemer is ending his long-shot GOP bid, and exchanging it for an even longer-shot independent bid, the former Louisiana governor announced today. "I have decided to take my campaign directly to the American people by declaring my candidacy for Americans Elect," a non-partisan online primary, Roemer said in a statement. "Also, after many discussions with the Reform Party, I am excited to announce my intentions of seeking their nomination."

Roemer, a former Democratic congressman and Republican governor, had staked his campaign on a fierce opposition to the influence of corporate and special interest money on elections, and, coincidentally enough, was unable to raise much money. He was excluded from all the GOP debates, though USA Today notes that he did tweet his responses to the questions. (More Buddy Roemer stories.)