Gary Johnson asks Iowa supporters to back Ron Paul

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, who recently abandoned his bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, asked his supporters in Iowa to back Ron Paul in the state's caucuses.

Johnson's bid for the GOP nomination failed to gain any real traction and he announced Wednesday that he would instead seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

"The cause of individual liberty and freedom is bigger and more important than any candidate or campaign," Johnson said Saturday. "I am hopeful that in urging my supporters in Iowa to vote for Ron Paul in the coming caucuses, a victory for the principles we share can be won."

Johnson added that while he and Paul are both libertarians, "we don't necessarily agree on every single issue. However, on the overriding issues of restoring our economy by cutting out-of-control spending and the need to get back to Constitutional principles in our government, Ron Paul and I are in lock-step."

Johnson noted that he had endorsed Paul for president in 2008. Paul had indicated, before announcing his own presidential campaign this cycle, that Johnson might have been a candidate he could support.

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