Think Ronald Reagan and the Panama Canal Treaty. He was against the ‘giveaway’. After a thorough discussion in the senate, both sides deliberating it was passed. There was no way Reagan would succumb. The deal was good for us and Latin America. Reagan was running for office. Agreeing would have made him a squish. Sound familiar?
Reagan won in ‘80 and his position didn’t cost him anything.
If you remember the agreement gave us the right to interfere if civil unrest in Panama constituted a threat to it’s operation. Still Reagan wouldn’t budge.
Rand could be very good as Trump’s VP. He brings up ‘teachable’ issues. That would set him up for the POTUS job, maybe even half-way through Trump’s 2nd term. Trump could say “Even I’m getting tired of me” and quit. 2 years to gut the government and 2 years for Rand to explain it in ways Trump can’t. Medical training helps.