It was the summer of 1787. The Constitutional Convention was about to take place in Philadelphia. And George Washington, the former commander-in-chief of the Continental Army was planning to stay at home in Mount Vernon. Only after hearing the compelling call of the people was he persuaded to make the trip.

And how could he not? Not only did Washington attend the convention, but he later accepted the calls to be our first president.

This was not a job that George Washington asked for. But the times called for a strong, wise person to lead our infant nation. And his pride in his country and his devotion to civic virtue left him no choice.

And now it is 2008. Politicians repeatedly ignore the Constitution and reject the principles of our founding fathers. We are a nation clamoring for leadership not from another politician, but from a statesman. We do not yearn for trivial soundbites and empty rhetoric, but for truth and wisdom and understanding.

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Can there be any doubt that Ron Paul is who this country needs? A man of the utmost integrity and a man of humility. But most importantly, a man with the right ideas - of tolerance, of love, of freedom, and - of course - of the people.

Ron Paul is in the thick of this race. Almost 30,000 proud Americans already have cast their ballots for Ron Paul in both Iowa and New Hampshire:

1. Romney 103,755 30%
2. McCain 102,361 29%
3. Huckabee 66,876 19%
4. Paul 29,648 9%
5. Giuliani 24,151 7%
6. Thompson 18,712 5%

We must do everything - absolutely everything - that we can to win the Republican nomination for Ron Paul. And no one involved in any way with this campaign can afford to not give 100%. It's going to take all of us, working independently, but working together - from every staff member here in Arlington, to our Meetup organizers in Chattanooga and our donors in California.