NEW YORK (PNN) - January 11, 2012 - Showing signs that he is in the GOP presidential race for the long hall, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), known by his supporters as The Patriot Congressman, expressed further concern over Mitt Romney’s record on Wednesday morning.

Asked by Morning Joe co-host Mika Brezinzski if he thought Romney was a “big-government conservative,” Paul agreed with that label.

“I would think so,” said Paul. “If you go by his record, he certainly couldn’t be governor of Massachusetts and (also) be a strict conservative. I think that’s been rehashed quite a few times on the positions he’s held as governor and the positions he holds now.”

The Patriot Congressman added, “The last thing we need is (some)body who is sympathetic maybe for TARP fund bailouts and single mandates. I think (the GOP will) get demolished in a general election if we’re tainted with that. Because there’s a large base in the Republican party who are saying we’ve been stung too many times (by) people who aren’t convincing enough good conservatives.”