Paul draws about 1,000 supporters in OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The United States should "mind its own business" when it comes to Iran's nuclear program and other world crises, Republican hopeful presidential Ron Paul said Saturday.

After speaking at a rally in Oklahoma City, Paul told reporters there is no proof that Iran aims to develop nuclear weapons and striking at the country militarily would be reckless.

"I believe in non-interventionism. We shouldn't be the policemen of the world," he said, adding that he thinks "we ought to mind our own business."

Paul also was asked about the violence between the government in Syria and opponents, and what role the United States should play. There has been talk about arming rebels against Bashar Assad's regime, but Paul cautioned that such policies are inconsistent and questioned whether the U.S. would support arming opponents of a "dictator" the government supports.

Outside at the rally, his message of less U.S. military intervention in other countries, less government and the abolition of the Federal Reserve Bank drew cheers from the crowd of about 1,000.

"The government assumes its responsibility is to improve our behavior. That eventually leads to a dictatorship," Paul said. "The government is not supposed to interfere with religious values. It's supposed to stay out of it. The government tells us what we can do with our own bodies."

Paul also said the country's middle class had once been the largest and most prosperous in the world but was now shrinking partly because of government debt.

His visit to Oklahoma comes in the final weekend of campaigning before Tuesday's primaries in Michigan and Arizona. He isn't considered to be a factor in Michigan and trails in Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in national polls and in The Associated Press delegate count.

Paul is in fourth place with 19 delegates. Mitt Romney leads with 123 delegates, followed by Rick Santorum at 72, and Newt Gingrich at 32. The GOP nominee needs 1,144 delegates.

Paul's supporters didn't seem fazed by his poll showing or delegate count.

"I feel like anything is possible at this point," said Kayla Rackley, 23, of Piedmont. "There are so many policies I support, like bringing the soldiers home and the fact that he supports keeping the right to choose. It just makes me feel like he's going to do something."

Harold Sutton, 68, a retired telephone equipment operator from Oologah said he doesn't support Gingrich, Romney or Santorum.

"I like the fact that he doesn't tell a bunch of lies or try to blow smoke up your butt," Sutton said of Paul. "He does what he says and says what he does."

Oklahoma's presidential primary is March 6.