Ron Paul launches 2012 fund-raising committee

It looks like it's not just Rick Santorum who's "testing the waters" for a 2012 run.

Politico's Andy Barr reports that Ron Paul quietly filed his own committee with the Internal Revenue Service to solicit cash for a potential White House bid.

Like Santorum, the Texas congressman isn't technically a 2012 candidate since he didn't file his fund-raising committee with the Federal Election Commission, which legally doesn't distinguish between so-called exploratory committees and full-fledged campaigns.

Paul has said he will decide on a race by May--a decision that could impact whether or not his son, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, launches his own White House bid. Rand Paul has said he'll run if his father chooses not to.

(Photo of Ron Paul: Jim Cole/AP)