Rand Paul cast himself as a transformative figure for the Republican party as he formally launched his presidential bid on Tuesday in Louisville, a closely-watched first step as he tries to tap into his father’s legacy without being suffocated by it.
With a dozen American flags directly behind him and the historic Galt House Hotel as the backdrop, the first-term Kentucky senator said Republicans must guard against special interests that have distracted the party from forcefully tackling “big government” and the national debt.
“The Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms and invades every nook and cranny of our lives must be stopped,” Paul said during the kick-off rally.
The first-term senator and ophthalmologist had seated behind him a diverse crowd that showed the cross-section of voters he’s trying to appeal to. It also highlighted his central challenge in the GOP nominating fight – claiming the anti-establishment mantle while capturing a broader swath of the electorate than his father Ron Paul.
Ron Paul, who spent more than three decades as a marginalized player in the House of Representatives, had a devoted national following but fell far short of contending in his unsuccessful 2008 and 2012 GOP bids and in his 1988 presidential run as Libertarian party nominee. Even in 2012, at the height of his popularity, Ron Paul failed to win the popular vote in a single state. read more
