Republican Rep. Ron Paul railed against the federal government during campaign stops in Nevada on Thursday, saying states are in the best position to resolve conflicts over the management of wild horses and roads on public lands.
Paul addressed about 600 people in Reno and 400 people in Elko ahead of Saturday's presidential caucus in Nevada.
He told a raucous crowd at a Reno hotel-casino night that he's tired of people saying he's an idealist who must learn to compromise.
"I think compromise is sort of like selling out," he said to loud cheers from supporters who waved placards reading, "End the Fed," "End All Wars" and "Ron Paul Revolution."
"It looks like the revolution is alive and well," Paul said. "This is a great state. There's a lot of people here who really like freedom."
During a stop earlier in the day in Elko, Paul said that while he's unsure of the solution to the wild horse problem in Nevada and other Western states, he thinks federal land managers should be the last resort to resolve the issue. He said he would like to see Nevada and other states come up with solutions.
"The last thing I think is some bureaucrat in Washington should be solving this problem," Paul said. "I can guarantee they'll make a wrong decision and not please anyone. The more privatized and localized, the better solution it would be."
