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Rand Paul's path to the nomination
The Week ^ | January 15, 2015 | Marc Ambinder

Posted on 01/15/2015 12:54:24 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

Where his Republican rivals draw attention to themselves with a tuba or a trumpet, Rand Paul puffs his Highland bagpipe. This analogy has little to do with his support for medical marijuana: Paul's sound is so different, it's compelling.

As his probable presidential campaign moves forward, don't lump him in with the conventionally conservative gadflies — former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Ted Cruz, or former Sen. Rick Santorum. The major activists and donors who chase those candidates are Paul skeptics.

But he's not a governor (or former governor) with executive experience and a reputation for governing, like Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, or Chris Christie. And aside from iconoclastic libertarian millionaires, the party's moneyed interests don't think Paul can win, don't like his unorthodox economic views, and won't give them their money. The party's national security poobahs think he's dangerous.

His uniqueness is his major asset and largest liability. He's easily the most authentic-seeming Republican out there, with his direct challenges to party leaders on issues (and not just on tactics, which is what Ted Cruz does).

Paul could very well be the candidate who is left standing after the other two groups engage in ritual fratricide. (He could win New Hampshire this way.) The media appreciates his attention to racial inequality, his refreshing candor about his fellow candidates, and even his policy inconsistencies, which he's not terribly concerned about resolving.

Or he could be a mere flavor of the month, buoyed by an early win or two in the primaries but never able to replicate the experience in later contests. He might never grow his base of support. His floor might be his ceiling.

So Paul has to work hard to discredit the other candidates. He has to convince Republicans who share his views on foreign policy — and many of them do — that he is electable, that he's sincere and responsible. He will be the race's biggest bombthrower because he stands to benefit most from the carnage.

Here's where marijuana comes in. Well, not pot, really. But guns, freedom, get government off my back; with those mantras, he will appeal to western conservatives and rural Republicans who aren't activists. He won't get the NRA's sole endorsement, but he might be able to get its members to campaign for him. And in smaller states, there might be enough libertarians on college campuses for him to pulse up his support at caucuses and conventions.

National Journal says he's like a door-to-door salesman. And that's right. Paul is not a natural fit for the party. His challenge is to remain distinctive at the same time he's establishing a comfort level with other Republicans.

That's why he's still figuring out whether he wants to run as something else — a Reagan conservative, a Tea Partier, an insurgent — or as Rand Paul, a canvas of sorts onto which Republicans can paint in the gaps.

Winning the nomination won't be easy for Paul, but he has a theory to prosecute, and it's not a bad one.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: 114th; 2016gopprimary; lping; marijuana; randpaul; randpaul2016; tedcruz
When the Left loves you, I don't.
1 posted on 01/15/2015 12:54:25 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Same as Jeb’s. The rainbow path.


2 posted on 01/15/2015 12:56:03 PM PST by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If he has a path, we are all doomed.


3 posted on 01/15/2015 12:56:09 PM PST by Ingtar (Is this the Ebola and rumors of Ebola mentioned in the Bible?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Rand Paul's path to the nomination

The nomination of what?

4 posted on 01/15/2015 12:57:06 PM PST by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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To: Jim Noble

“The nomination of what? “

CEPP....Chief Executive Pablum-Puker


5 posted on 01/15/2015 1:02:26 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Rand won’t be POTUS, not even concerned about it.


6 posted on 01/15/2015 1:04:38 PM PST by gwgn02
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
with his direct challenges to party leaders on issues (and not just on tactics, which is what Ted Cruz does).

Cruz challenges them on tactics, in order to keep them in line on issues.
7 posted on 01/15/2015 1:09:38 PM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Ted is just sitting there quietly, letting state-controlled media believe they are in charge again.


8 posted on 01/15/2015 1:16:04 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Offend a Christian and he is obliged to pray for you. Offend a Muslim and he is obliged to kill you.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rand Paul has a path to the nomination?! Incredible.


9 posted on 01/15/2015 1:43:09 PM PST by Reno89519 (For every illegal or H1B with a job, there's an American without one. Muslim = Nazi = Evil)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

ain’t gonna happen


10 posted on 01/15/2015 1:57:45 PM PST by oldbill
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Here's where marijuana comes in. Well, not pot, really. But guns, freedom, get government off my back; with those mantras, he will appeal to western conservatives and rural Republicans who aren't activists. He won't get the NRA's sole endorsement, but he might be able to get its members to campaign for him. And in smaller states, there might be enough libertarians on college campuses for him to pulse up his support at caucuses and conventions.

What a libertarian fake out, of course it is about drugs, there is nothing unique about Paul and guns that separates him from the herd.

11 posted on 01/15/2015 2:32:07 PM PST by ansel12 (Civilization, Crusade against the Mohammedan Death Cult.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Rand is an interesting guy.


12 posted on 01/15/2015 3:13:11 PM PST by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

More like his path to oblivion.


13 posted on 01/15/2015 3:14:20 PM PST by Fledermaus (RINO FReepers are delusional and come January 2015 will take it up the *** again when the GOPe caves)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The first President to wear a wig since James Monroe?


14 posted on 01/15/2015 3:17:45 PM PST by Dagnabitt (Amnesty is Treason. Its agents and supporters are Traitors.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Where his Republican rivals draw attention to themselves with a tuba or a trumpet, Rand Paul puffs his Highland bagpipe.

If that's a metaphor, it's stupid.

But if it's literally true, color me intrigued.

15 posted on 01/15/2015 3:21:08 PM PST by x
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To: TBP

So were Hitler, LBJ and Napoleon, but you wouldn’t catch me voting for them.


16 posted on 01/15/2015 3:44:48 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: x

You’re one of my favorite and least favorite posters sometimes. Don’t make me explain it. LOL


17 posted on 01/15/2015 3:45:50 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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