WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Ron Paul says he won't tweak his message in order to make up ground in the race for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination.

The Texas congressman and libertarian icon said his long-held views on the economy and monetary policy were more relevant than ever and would be ultimately more effective than the "tinkering" offered by his GOP rivals.


"In my proposal, I say real spending cuts not like the others, tinkering on the edges," Paul said on "Fox News Sunday." "I want a trillion-dollar cut in the first year to show that it's spending that is the problem."

Fox noted that Paul, despite his convictions, is running a fairly distant third place in the latest polls out of early primary states Iowa and South Carolina. While conservatives appreciate his hawkish views on spending slashes, Fox said, they aren't as keen on his more-isolationist views of foreign affairs.

Paul contended that keeping U.S. troops home would strengthen the domestic economy, encourage international trade and cool down anti-U.S. feelings abroad that are bolstering al-Qaida.

"Isolationism is when you put on tariffs and protectionism and you don't want to trade with people and you don't want to travel." Paul said. "Mine [foreign policy] is the opposite. Mine is really very open."