Posted on 04/10/2015 6:26:00 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
IOWA CITY, Iowa—Rand Paul kicked off his first public appearance in the Hawkeye State since launching his anti-establishment presidential campaign with a question that was meant as a rallying cry. “Do we have any liberty lovers here?” he asked a crowd composed mostly of University of Iowa students, who sported Rand stickers and responded with cheers and whistles. But if Paul’s going to have any chance of contending for his party’s nomination, he better hope their nonlibertarian-leaning parents feel the same way.
The Iowa caucus will, of course, be the first major test for the entire GOP field—but the first-in-the-nation nominating contest is particularly important for Paul. The Kentucky senator’s campaign is predicated on the idea that he’ll be able to hold onto the libertarian-leaning bloc of voters who helped his father carve out a corner of the national stage in 2012, while at the same time layering upon that base enough converts from the more traditionally Republican masses to put him over the top. The Hawkeye State would appear to be particularly fertile ground for that strategy to take root. If it fails here, Paul will have a difficult time convincing anyone that it will work anywhere else.
In 2012, Ron Paul had one of his best showings of his entire campaign in Iowa, and much of that political infrastructure remains in place today. The elder Paul won 21 percent of the GOP caucus vote, enough to earn the libertarian firebrand an unexpectedly close—if largely overshadowed—third-place finish behind Rick Santorum and eventual nominee Mitt Romney, both of whom bested the Texas congressman by only four points, or less than 4,000 votes apiece. It’s conceivable, then, that Rand Paul will find himself among the caucus favorites come February 2016 simply by picking up where his father left off...
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
Be sure you join little bush to his WMD country invading bother and his tax raising Daddy. I for one like Rand as his own man far from the past and his great Dad. Rand is reaching out to a huge spectrum .
His dad is a nut as it appears he is as well.
Rand Paul was interesting when he first appeared. Then he buddied up with Mitch McConnell. And then he went soft on illegal aliens. That was enough for me.
CRUZ TO VICTORY OR GET BUSHED !
“Pot! Pot! Pot! We want pot!”
Story leaves out the debacle of Paul supporters gaining control of the Iowa GOP and then having to be removed due to their ineptness. I’d bet the bloom is off the Paul Iowa rose and he won’t match his father’s numbers.
To what do you refer specifically. Give resource to your conjecture. Who do you like? Planned parenthood?
You have said that before but it was rejected then and rejected now. Go play with the Rinos and Planned Parenthood.
Don’t answer to you noob. Now, go roll one and smoke it in honor of the Pauls...
Amen!
Rejected? I don’t think so.
Ok take a hike. I’m through with igmos.
These too:
Ron Paul supporters bolt Rand Paul camp -Support Ted Cruz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3276663/posts
Supporters deserting Rand Paul for Ted Cruz (Including key people)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3273028/posts
Why is Ted Cruz slaying Rand Paul on Facebook?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3277216/posts
2nd Division ?
Now you got a Rand Paul supporter calling some Ted Cruz supporters communists because they are critical of Rand Paul and want Rand Paul to answer some ligitimate questions... Incredible..
He id a great citizen!!
I must be reading too much British news. When I read “Rand Paul’s First Test” I immediately though, “I didn’t know he played cricket.”
Corny Guy,
Bad enough to drink the bong water, but it sounds like you’re cooking, bathing, brushing your teeth, making beer and watering your lawn with it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.