Ron Paul: Mitt Romney ‘more likely’ than rival candidates to ‘listen to his advisers’

by Alicia M. Cohn - 03/26/12 2:35 PM ET

{mosads}He said the only “big difference” he could see between Romney and Santorum was one of “tone” rather than policy.

Paul and Romney have been the subject of speculation recently over whether they have a private alliance pledging not to harm each other’s prospects. Both deny it, with Paul saying Monday that the two have “cordial relations” but still run negative ads.

“I think he’s the kind of person that at least listens when I say something,” Paul said. “We just have disagreements on the spending and the policies. I believe in a lot less government than he does.”

He said he doubted Romney would consider him for his administration.

“I don’t think that’s likely to happen,” he continued. “We have to wait and see what comes out of this election.”

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Paul also dismissed concerns that the fractured vote and long primary process is bad for the GOP.

“Why should we quit and say, ‘OK, it’s getting late, so we all have to get together and quit debating the issues’? No, I think the debate should go on,” he said. “It’s not like this is the first time they didn’t have a candidate by this time in the cycle. The Democrats didn’t have one by this go-around, didn’t happen until June. I don’t think it hurts to debate the issues.”

Paul, who has not won a primary vote so far in the race and is well behind in the delegate count, said he is not dropping out anytime soon because he is the only candidate “really discussing the alternative to our foreign policy, monetary policy or our financial crisis and spending” as well as “militarism overseas.”

“Yes, I am trailing, but the race isn’t over,” Paul said.