PORTSMOUTH, NH -- When former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson decided to leave the GOP to pursue the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination two days ago, his former New Hampshire staffers chose not to go with him.

This morning, Johnson's New Hampshire staff declared their support for Ron Paul -- with just four days to go until the Hawkeye State votes and 11 days to the New Hampshire primary.

"Like many political observers, we see clear and compelling differences between Congressman Ron Paul and the other candidates who will garner significant support in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary," the staffers said in a statement.

They explained their move to Paul was born out of necessity.

"We think the people who care about the things we care about should get behind Ron Paul....we wish Gov. Johnson well," Matt Simon, Johnson's former New Hampshire communications director, told NBC News on Friday.

The decision to back the Texas congressman came two months after Johnson suspended his New Hampshire-centric campaign in October. His staff left shortly thereafter in search of a new candidate.

Simon added that they would be willing to continue support Johnson in the general election -- assuming Paul does not win the GOP nod and Johnson wins the Libertarian nomination.

But for now, supporting libertarian-inspired ideals as early as possible is the top priority for the former Johnson staff.

"I've never been someone who votes for the lesser of two evils," said Simon, referring to New Hampshire front runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

In addition to Simon, Johnson supporters who are now backing Paul include Brinck Slattery, the former New Hampshire state coordinator; Nick Murray, former Seacoast field coordinator and college coordinator; Andy Hauger, former Merrimack Valley field coordinator; and Eric Jackman, former Southwestern New Hampshire field coordinator to Paul.

The five will simply support Paul -- and, as of now, they will not formally join his organization or be paid. The Paul campaign could not be immediately reached for comment.

Joe Hunter, Johnson's communications director, told NBC: "With the New Hampshire primary coming and with Gary having announced he is running as a libertarian, it makes perfect sense for them to be supporting Ron Paul in the primary."

MANCHESTER, NH -- Former two-term New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson officially dropped out of the Republican race for the White House today to run for the Libertarian Party's nomination.

Johnson said he's "deeply disappointed" by the GOP in a process he deemed "not fair." His campaign first announced the shift last week.

"Frankly, I have been deeply disappointed by the treatment I received in the Republican nomination process," Johnson said at his announcement in Sante Fe. "The process was not fair and open."

Johnson is the first major candidate to run as a third-party candidate. His jump comes after serving as New Mexico governor as a Republican from 1995 to 2003 and months of campaigning in New Hampshire, where he was unable to rise above low single digits in state-wide polls. Johnson was famous for criss-crossing the state on his bicycle and hosting a town hall meeting in Concord -- to which no one showed up.

Nationally, Johnson has been known for supporting the legalization of marijuana. Unlike most of his GOP counterparts, he also supports gay marriage and abortion rights.

As a libertarian-minded candidate, Johnson often had a difficult time escaping the shadow of the more popular Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who champions similar positions as Johnson. Paul has told NBC News he has no intentions of running as a third-party candidate, but did not completely rule it out if he is unsuccessful in his Republican bid.

Johnson said Paul's potential failure to win the GOP nomination was part of his own calculus to run as a Libertarian.

"While Ron Paul is a good man and a libertarian who I proudly endorsed in 2008, there is no guarantee he will be the Republican nominee," Johnson said.

Johnson said moving to the Libertarian Party was "both a difficult decision -- and an easy one."

"I have a lot of Republican history and a lot of Republican supporters. But in the final analysis ... I am a Libertarian -- that is someone who is fiscally very conservative but holds freedom-based positions on the issues that govern our personal behavior," he explained.

If Johnson wins the Libertarian Party's nomination, his name would appear on the general election ballot in all 50 states.