Paul fires up Alaska crowds before preference poll

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The only major Republican candidate to campaign in Alaska before the party's presidential preference poll on Tuesday says America must put its finances in order and can get a good start by cutting spending overseas.

Ron Paul on Sunday spoke to enthusiastic crowds in Fairbanks and Anchorage, drawing at least 1,000 people at each venue.

Paul says the country cannot enjoy continued prosperity by printing money to finance debt.

He pledged to cut a trillion dollars his first year in office and says he'll do so by bringing home troops, closing foreign bases and cutting "overseas welfare."

Paul says America can accomplish more through negotiation and trade than through flexing its military might, but that the country's policies ultimately will change because it can no longer afford them.