Why Rand Paul is Marco Rubio's Biggest Political Threat

National Journal ^ | Michael Catalini

[JohnPDuncan]

David Adams, a Kentucky tea-party activist and former campaign manager for Sen. Rand Paul, remembers a conference call from the 2010 Senate race when the conversation turned to talk of their favorite presidents. Some said George Washington, others Abraham Lincoln. Adams's pick? "Rand Paul in 2016," he recalled.

Three years later, Paul is acting like he’s already preparing a future presidential campaign, courting activists from early-primary states, smoothing out his positions on foreign policy, and delivering a high-profile national address, competing against a potential future GOP rival, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

Last week the Kentucky Republican spoke at the Heritage Foundation, seeking to dispel the perception that he's an isolationist and embracing George Kennan's containment philosophy. The speech comes after a high-profile visit to Israel where Paul, a vocal opponent of foreign aid, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called the country America's "most vital ally in the Middle East." Accompanying Paul on the visit were evangelical activists from the early-primary states of Iowa and South Carolina, a sign the senator wanted to shore up his relationship with devout Protestants, a key part of the Republican voting bloc.

On Inauguration Day, when his colleagues packed onto the West Front of the Capitol for the president's address, Paul traveled to South Carolina, an early presidential primary state, to speak at a conservative event.

And Tuesday, he will be giving the Tea Party Express’s official response to President Obama's State of the Union, sharing airtime with Rubio, another potential 2016 contender, who is delivering the GOP's official response.

[Howie66]

From what I have seen and heard from Senator Rubio in the past few weeks, he seems to be his own “biggest threat”.

I’ll stick with Senator TED CRUZ all the way.

[JohnPDuncan]

Ah yes, Rubio not only has to worry about being upstaged by Rand Paul but now there’s another hispanic who is more conservative than he is to compete with and who rebuked him on immigration reform.

Things haven’t gone well for the new golden boy of the GOP.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I like what I see of Ted Cruz...

[Sybeck1]

What is Rand’s shamnesty plan?

[muir_redwoods]

There are two things the republicans need to do to win in 2016; nominate a solidly constitutional ticket and avoid the circular firing squad. They’ve shown no talent for either recently.

[JohnPDuncan]

1) Secure border with a report from an Inspector with Congress voting on it before proceeding (as opposed to a presidential appointee like Secretary of Homeland Security deciding)

2) Normalize illegal aliens by giving them a work visa before they can get a green card and then eventually citizenship with them going to the back of the queue.

3) No welfare benefits for anyone in the program.

I think that’s it. I could be wrong. Bottom line: he doesn’t believe in giving them amnesty but he would normalize them over many years as long as they’re not put ahead of legal immigrants or ones who are already waiting to be naturalized and he doesn’t believe you can have open borders and a welfare state.

[Howie66]

Having the pleasure of knowing Senator Cruz (albeit on a limited basis) I am confident that he is the real deal.

I really like the guy!

[Sirius Lee]

I’ll stick with Senator TED CRUZ all the way.

I'd vote for Cruz, but has he made any indications of running for the top job in 2016?

If not, I'll take Rand or Rubio over Jeb or Christie any day.

[justice14]

I like Rubio. Great communicator. Hopefully He can reach some people tonight.

[Servant of the Cross]

False "either/or" premise. It is not Rand Paul vs. Marco Rubio. It is both! And it is awesome that they will each get to critique the poseur's SOTU.

And that's a good thing for America and our true friends around the world, especially Bibi Netanyahu.

[TomGuy]

What is Rand’s shamnesty plan?

Not so long ago, I read that Rand 'liked' the Rubio plan, but he had not 'officially' endorsed it.

Rubio's plan is basically a rework (very little needed) of McCain's old plan. 'Secure the border' (whatever the heck that old canard means), pay a fine, speak English, yada yada yada.

Rubio seems to insist on that 'secure the border' part. Rubio is either naive or in on the ole shellgame. If he were really insistent on that happening, it could be done with EXISTING laws -- we don't need more laws that won't be enforced anyway.

[Howie66]

Frankly, I would LOVE to see Cruz become Senate Majority Leader.

I am really of the mind that we do not need a former Senator sitting in our White House ever again.

I am also of the mind that before any Senator thinks of running for POTUS, they should serve at least the full term that they were elect to in the beginning.

One only need look no further to what we are currently saddled with, don’t you think?

[IbJensen]

Isn’t it great that Senator Rubio is delivering his response the Dismal State of the Union in Spanish?

Rand Paul/Sarah Palin

[Howie66]

Rubio is been speaking plenty in the past several weeks and I have not been impressed.

I still want to know just why he did NOT vote against Hanoi John Kerry for Sec of State?

Doesn’t that bother you at all?

[Howie66]

One thing that needs to happen for sure.....Rove has to be ejected from anything near influence with the GOP.

[chuckles]

I love Cruz and agree with you, BUT, he's a Canadian. He can't run. I like Rand Paul, but I think he has his fathers disease of believing the Muslims mean us no harm if we just leave them alone. IMHO, Rubio has something to prove to me that he's not just another RINO.

I love the Tea Party, but there is more to life than just the tax structure. If the Tea Party takes no more issues than just the budget and taxes, they will be irrelevant. How about guns for instance? How about abortion? How about marriage?

If they don't take a stand on other issues they will be kicked to the curb.

[JohnPDuncan]

You mean having a governor like Bush massively expand the state instead of a conservative senator slashing the size of government ?

[entropy12]

Very astute observation, to avoid circular firing squad.

What we will need in 2016 is the best communicator because it will be no cakewalk Vs. Hillary or whoever the Rat’s nominate.

A solid conservative would be nice but he/she must be a superb candidate, who can not be flumoxed by the ever hostile MSM. No deer in the headlight face, must know about the Bush doctrine, and any other gotcha questions, and most of all no stupid comments on rape.

I really am dying for a winner in 2016. Being a solid conservative is never enough to win. Just ask these candidates:

Todd Akin
Richard Mourdock
Sharron Angle
Christine O’Donnell
George Allen
Joe Miller
Ken Buck
Alan West
Doug Hoffman
JD Hayworth

We don’t need a “nice” guy who will not respond fire with fire or a squishee moderate. Otherwise these would have won the elections:

Mitt Romney
Tommy Thompson
John McCain
Bob Dole

At this point I like only two...Rand Paul & Marco Rubio.
Ted Cruz needs more exposure and time to mature in politics.
He could also emerge by 2016 as a viable candidate.
But election is eons away and I am flexible.

[vmivol00]

Rubio will deliver the pro-amnesty capitulation and sellout of US citizens for the Republican Party.