On March 4, the nation will be focused squarely on two of the largest states holding presidential primaries: Texas and Ohio.

Then and there, the struggle between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton might - might - be settled at last.

Texas is also where a presidential contender will be fighting for his political life, not a long-shot bid for the White House.

Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, distinguished himself as the only GOP presidential candidate opposing the Iraq War.

He gained a devoted following, raising as much or more cash than mainstream rivals, including current front-runner Sen. John McCain.

Some supporters have urged Paul to mount a third-party candidacy as an independent, although he insists that he has no plans to.

But the anti-war, libertarian rhetoric that garnered Ron Paul strong national recognition in ‘08 could actually hurt him back home.

Paul, who ran for the White House as a libertarian in 1988 and finished a distant third, has not officially suspended his 2008 campaign, but he has significantly scaled it back to focus on a race at home.

That being for his House seat.

Ron Paul has been accused of not spending enough time in the 14th district, for missing votes, and for choosing an ideological high ground over doing the job of a congressman, which is enacting legislation.

Some analysts believe the presidential race has exposed some of his values and principles that are not in line with his district, and that exposure could harm his bid to retain his seat in Congress.

Continue reading this ABC News article here …