Paul Joins Huntsman in Skipping Trump Event: I Didn't Know He Had the Ability to 'Anoint People

During his appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Texas Rep. Ron Paul elaborated on his decision to not join other Republican candidates for President in attending an event moderated by Donald Trump. Paul said the main reason for his decision was based off the real estate mogul's treatment of the Republican Party of Iowa. When asked about Trump's popularity among GOP candidates, who continue to make time to meet with the man who once was seriously considering challenging Barack Obama himself, the veteran politician Paul told CNN host Candy Crowley that he doesn't get:

"Yeah, I don't quite understand it. I don't understand the marching to his office. I mean I didn't know that he had an ability to lay on hands, you know, and anoint people. But I have to just do my thing. I don't think -- obviously -- you know, early on, even at CPAC, he volunteered the first attack on me.

But evidently, you know, he probably doesn't like my position on the federal reserve. You know, easy credit for developers and investors, you know they like easy credit and they like the federal reserve and they like that for bailing out. So I don't know, maybe deep down philosophic. And of course his position on China was quite different. So I think it is philosophic and probably his personality that doesn't like to be challenged."

The attack that Paul was referring to was when then possible candidate Trump said at CPAC last year that Ron Paul had "zero chance" of winning the presidency.

In key early primary states, Paul is currently polling third in New Hampshire and second in Iowa.

When Paul's campaign released a statement yesterday declining an invitation to attend Newsmax's December 27th debate hosted by "reality television personality" Donald Trump, they described the selection of Trump as "beneath the office of the Presidency:"

"Mr. Trump’s participation as moderator will distract from questions and answers concerning important issues such as the national economy, crushing federal government debt, the role of the federal government, foreign policy, and the like. To be sure, Mr. Trump’s participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere."

Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman announced Saturday that he too will skip Trump's event, telling reporters in South Carolina “I’m not going to journey to New York City to meet with Don Trump. You just need know that,” to scattered laughter.

Trump has already responded to Paul and Huntsman's remarks, via the New York Daily News Sunday:

“'Few people take Ron Paul seriously and many of his views and presentation make him a clown-like candidate,' Trump said in a statement Sunday to the Daily News.

'I am glad he and Jon Huntsman, who has inconsequential poll numbers or a chance of winning, will not be attending the debate and wasting the time of the viewers who are trying very hard to make a very important decision,' Trump said."

At least they all can agree on one thing: they want President Obama fired.