Politics | Buddy Roemer GOP's Roemer Mounts Indie Run He'll jump into fray with Americans Elect and Reform Party By Kevin Spak Posted Feb 22, 2012 10:41 AM CST Copied Republican presidential candidate, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, gives a news connference in Manchester, N.H. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) 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. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Iran's supreme leader makes first public comments since ceasefire. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Report an error