 Ron Paul gained a big internet following during the republican primari |
Texas Congressman Ron Paul is to urge voters to reject Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain and vote for a third-party US candidate instead.
Mr Paul, who dropped his own bid for the Republican nomination earlier this year, has a big internet following.
He is backing independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Bob Barr and Constitution Party and Green Party candidates.
"The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system," he will tell a Washington news conference.
"This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates."
Those invited to attend Mr Paul's news conference include Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, a former Democratic congresswoman for Georgia, and Constitution Party contender Chuck Baldwin.
According to an advance copy of Mr Paul's remarks, he will say the mainstream parties have no major differences on important issues, such as balancing the budget and civil liberties.
'Realignment'
Mr Nader is quoted by the Associated Press as saying the gathering of third-party candidates would "raise the eyebrows" of commentators sceptical about their chances in November's presidential election.
"This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics," he told the AP.
Mr Nader won 0.3% of the vote in 2004, when he ran as an independent. In 2000, when he stood as a Green Party candidate, he was blamed by Democrats for taking votes from Al Gore that might have prevented George W Bush's narrow re-election.
Thousands of people attended a protest rally held by the libertarian-leaning Mr Paul - who opposes the Iraq war - near the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, last week.
He won no contests in his party's primary election season but raised large amounts of money and support online.
Go Ron Paul. Rock the vote baby!
An immediate update:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ron Paul says he rejected John McCain's appeal for his endorsement.
At a news conference Wednesday, Paul said he received a surprise call from McCain's campaign on Tuesday asking for his endorsement. Paul turned them down.
Paul said: "The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate."
Paul won no primaries in the Republican nomination contest but developed a strong following on the Internet. He appeared at a news conference with third-party candidates, including Ralph Nader and former Georgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney. Paul suggested backing the non-major party candidates.
