Ron Paul today endorsed Constitution Party presidential candidate Chuck Baldwin.

Paul made it clear that he was responding to Bob Barr’s criticism for “remaining neutral” by supporting the four significant alternative candidatesm, specifically mentioning Barr’s failure to appear at Paul’s unity event “by canceling his appearance “forty minutes before the pess conference started…To say the least, I was shocked and disappointed.” He continued:

The Libertarian Party Candidate admonished me for “remaining neutral” in the presidential race and not stating whom I will vote for in November. It’s true; I have done exactly that due to my respect and friendship and support from both the Constitution and Libertarian Party members. I remain a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party and I’m a ten-term Republican Congressman. It is not against the law to participate in more then one political party. Chuck Baldwin has been a friend and was an active supporter in the presidential campaign. I continue to wish the Libertarian and Constitution Parties well. The more votes they get, the better. I have attended Libertarian Party conventions frequently over the years.

I’ve thought about the unsolicited advice from the Libertarian Party candidate, and he has convinced me to reject my neutral stance in the November election. I’m supporting Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate.

A U.S. District Court in Louisiana is holding an extensive trial in the ballot access case for the Libertarian and Socialist Party presidential candidates. It convened at 10 a.m., went on for two hours, and has recessed for lunch. It reconvenes at 1:30 central time. Brian Moore, the Socialist Party’s presidential candidate, is one of the witnesses. He was on the stand for almost an hour, in the morning. The Libertarian Party also has witnesses, including the state chair, Adrien Monteleone. The state is fighting this case very hard, and has seven attorneys present.

The issue is whether to set aside the September 2 deadline for filing the paperwork for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The Governor had issued a directive, not only postponing the congressional primary, but pushing back all deadlines that occurred the week of September 1-5, due to the storms.

Gene Amondson, presidential candidate of the Prohibition Party, is on the ballot for the 2008 election in states that cast 9.6% of the national popular vote in 2004. Although 9.6% is modest, it is the best showing for that party since 1976.