Ron Paul Retiring From House in 2012

Texas Rep. Ron Paul has decided to put all his eggs into one basket. Paul announced on his Facebook page that he will not seek re-election because he wants to focus all his energy on "winning the presidency," USA Today reports. He also told a local paper he didn't want to deal with the distraction of running simultaneous campaigns.

"I felt it was better that I concentrate on one election," Paul told The Facts, which covers his congressional district. "It's about that time when I should change tactics." Paul, who was first elected to Congress in 1976 and has held his seat continuously since 1996, has run for president twice before. He noted that announcing his retirement early will give potential successors more time to make a decision on whether to run. (More Ron Paul stories.)