Ron Paul Rallies Supporters After Fourth Place SC Finish: 'This Is the Beginning of a Long, Hard Slog

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul told supporters Saturday that the momentum of his campaign, and cause, will continue.

"This is the beginning of a long, hard slog," Paul said. Paul placed fourth in the South Carolina primary, behind Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

The Hill notes that Paul's speech was notably devoid of any attacks on his competitors. The Texas Congressman focused on most of his libertarian talking points and campaign momentum, stating that supporter numbers for his campaign "have been growing."

"In the beginning, I thought it would just be promotion of a cause," said Paul."Then it dawned on me: When you win elections and you win delegates, that’s how you promote a cause."

During his speech in Columbia, Paul vowed to continue campaigning, noting that only 37 delegates--a tiny fraction of what is needed to win the party nomination--had been awarded so far.  The Chicago Tribune reports that supporters greeted Paul's denunciation of the U.S. monetary system by thrusting their fists into the air and chanting, “End the Fed! End the Fed!”

Paul concluded his speech by saying that his campaign would "win this battle for peace and prosperity."

AP reports that Paul is heading home to Texas from South Carolina for a day off before flying to Tampa, Monday for a nationally televised debate on NBC. Paul was also scheduled to appear in a CNN debate Thursday but was otherwise bypassing Florida, which holds its primary January 31.

Advisers tell AP that Paul will probably head to Maine, whose caucuses begin February 7, and then onto caucus states like Minnesota, Nevada and Colorado. His advisers have long promised to follow the model used by President Barack Obama's campaign in 2008, believing Paul's young, Internet-savvy army would turn out to caucus for him in large numbers.

AP highlights of Paul's speech

Full Speech: