DES MOINES, Iowa -- Republican Ron Paul vowed Thursday night to continue his presidential campaign into New Hampshire and other states.

"This is not the end. This is the beginning," the Texas congressman told a boisterous gathering of about 150 people at a downtown Des Moines hotel.

The crowd interrupted Paul at times, chanting "Live free or die" and "Ron Paul."

"I am more encouraged than ever before," he said.

Although Paul finished in fifth place, he noted that he was ahead of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"We the people, who care about the country and the constitution," Paul said. "I don't think we're going to let it die."

Paul, a 10-term member of Congress, has waged an unusual campaign that matched his libertarian views with events involving a blimp and the re-enactment of the Boston Tea Party.

Paul opposes the Iraq war, opposes the federal income tax and urges Americans to push for a fiscally responsible government.

Much media attention has been focused on his Internet-based fundraising, which drew more than $18 million in the final three months of the year.