Texas Representative Ron Paul was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, remaining in the race long after Arizona Senator John McCain established a substantial mathematical lead.

Paul makes a cameo appearance in Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming movie, Bruno. In the scene, Bruno attempts but fails to seduce the congressman in a hotel room. Paul reportedly stormed out of the room yelling "This guy is a queer!" the comments were not confirmed by Paul's spokesperson.Slate Magazine: Ron Paul's insane cameo in Sacha Baron... (March 17, 2009)

Paul grew up during The Great Depression, and worked at his father's dairy starting at age five. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Wells, on February 1, 1957.

Paul attended medical school at Duke University, earning his degree in 1961. He was drafted into the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis and remained in the military through the start of the Vietnam War, serving as an active-duty flight surgeon. He was never actually sent to Vietnam.

Paul says he was inspired to enter politics after President Richard Nixon moved American currency off the gold standard, which he felt would lead to a money crisis. He won a special election in 1976, to fill a seat vacated when Robert R. Casey was appointed to head the Federal Maritime Commission.

Once in Congress, Paul founded the Foundation for Rational Economics and Education, dedicated to the promotion of limited government.

Paul ran for president as the Libertarian Party candidate in 1988, beating out Native American activist Russell Means and musician Frank Zappa for the nomination. He placed third in the general election.

Paul declared his intention to run for President again on C-SPAN on March 12, 2007. His strong grassroots support, much of it coming in over the Internet, gave him the largest single-day fundraising total in U.S. history—over $6 million. Much of his candidacy has revolved around his anti-interventionist foreign policy, as well as his strong opposition to U.S. involvement in Iraq.

• August 20, 1935: Born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• 1957: Bachelor's degree Gettysburg College

• 1961: M.D. from Duke University

• 1963-1968: Serves as a Flight Surgeon in The U.S. Air Force

• 1976-1977: Serves as Representative From Texas

• 1979-1985: Serves as Representative From Texas

• 1988: Receives 3rd highest popular vote for President as Libertarian Candidate

• 1997-Current: Serves as Representative From Texas