Posted on 07/16/2015 11:52:34 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Here is the guy who should be doing some cross-party fusion. He rallied a lot of Americans in bipartisan fashion on national security. He seemed to be playing his cards right. And . . . ? Bernie Sanders is kicking his butt in campaign fundraising. In fact, I dare say Sanders froze Paul’s chance at fusion. All the little rich libertine millennials that Paul was counting on, instead got excited for Sanders. But I am still really surprised by this.
Paul only raised $6.9 million. Ben Carson raised $10.6. And that is money raised by the candidate, not the Super PAC. The fact that a guy like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84%, Mister Individualist, is having to depend on two outside Super PACs to raise money for him — and neither have released totals yet — is really surprising. I suspect it was a strategic miscalculation for Paul to enter the race when he did because it meant he could no longer coordinate with his Super PAC. Perhaps Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%‘s strategy of jumping in early stroked Paul’s ego in a way that forced a strategic mistake. As long as Paul did not formally declare, he could fundraise with the Super PACs. But the moment Cruz got in, Paul felt compelled to jump in too.
To be fair, most of Paul’s contributions are less than $200.00 a piece. That shows he has some real grassroots support. But that’s not enough. He got in Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 63%‘s bed in Kentucky and McConnell made kissy face through his re-election. The moment McConnell’s victory was secure he kicked Paul out of the bed. Paul has misplayed his hand on social issues and, for large donors, national security issues too.
The blunt fact of the matter is that between Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) 100%, it turns out the base loves Cruz more. Cruz raised $14.3 million to Paul’s $6.9 million, excluding SuperPAC dollars. Cruz is second in the GOP race, behind Bush, with Super PAC dollars and it does not seem Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% will beat him when his Super PACs finally show what they raised.
I am genuinely surprised by this. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% should be doing much better. He actually has a good story. He actually has positions that set him apart from the GOP field. He has a built in base of support from his father. But remarkably it appears Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) 84% will be less a factor on 2016 than his dad was in 2012. I really never expected that. And not only that, if you pay attention to the campaign schedule, Paul is marching to the beat of his own drummer in ways that suggest the drummer isn’t really headed toward the White House. Michigan? Really?
What the hell happened?
I don’t care what happened to him. I’m just glad that he’s fading from sight.
Blaming your own people for acts of aggression by enemies is a sure loser, at the negotiating table, in the ballot box and on the battlefield.
Do you think this Iran deal will prevent the coming mid east war?
Nothing ‘happened’ Erik. If you had paid attention from day 1 you’d have known Paul was a liberal ready to do the GOP bidding when it mattered. Which he as.
Paul is merely a corrupt little weasel:
He’s dead to me.
I like Rand’s hair! That might be the only thing.
Very “retro.”
Colloquially stated, nonetheless correct.
And mostly his capitulation on social conservatism.
Frankly I prefer Rand Paul in the Senate fighting hard everyday for our personal freedoms. He does a good job at that and we need him. Everybody can’ be President.
Frankly I prefer Rand Paul in the Senate fighting hard everyday for our personal freedoms. He does a good job at that and we need him. Everybody can’t be President.
We all would. Any idea when he’ll stop being a liberal and actually doing that?
The sad thing is that Rand is probably one of the best ten senators in America! I’m glad that you brought up the squelching of an investigation that Paul spearheaded.
Paul went silent after the homosexual crap was ruled, since then he wants to stay out of the spotlight.
Immigration amnesty and the homosexual movement is what Paul stands for so he wants to stay silent, , along with him wanting to cut the military like obama is doing.
Couple thoughts there: A: I don't think Erickson is right about Sanders picking up the Paul supporters. I think they are largely two separate groups. B: to the extent they are the same, those are phony libertarian types...they have one issue, maybe two, but many of these have no understanding of full libertarianism, or even of Reagan libertarianism (which stopped at the waters edge.
I would happily have voted for Ron for House from Texas, and Rand for Senate from Kentucky....but I’d not ever prefer either of them for Prez.
Rand had that issue with a woman reporter. Angry attitude.
He exposed the truth about himself as the non-conservative who tried to pander to the 'big tent' Establishment ...
McConnell: Rand Paul can 'count on me' for 2016
RAND PAUL: IT'S AMERICA'S FAULT
Rand Paul: Let’s face it, it’s going to be difficult to repeal ObamaCare at this point
Rand Paul Touts GOP Unity, Endorses Susan Collins 'Wholeheartedly' in Maine
Rand Paul Wants Bigger GOP: ‘You Go to a Republican Event and It’s All White People’
Rand Paul: Amnesty Legislation Could Pass This Year
Rand Paul seeks new allies among Romney 2012 team
Rand Paul's NYPD Shooting Blowback
Chris Matthews used to be a big Rand Paul fan on his show. He hasn’t mentioned him lately. Now Chris Matthews is a big Donald Trump fan.
Every night now half of his show is lauding Trump. He acts like he is going to vote for the guy when we really know he is using Trump to help Democrats.
Rand Paul has the handicap this year of being old news and is now most notably attached to the boutique and cranky libertarian cause of restricting US electronic surveillance as used for intelligence and anti-terror purposes. In comparison, Ted Cruz is a newer personality and is more of a full-spectrum conservative, known mostly for attacking excessive federal spending.
The base can respect Rand Paul on certain issues. But they are nowhere near his positions on foreign policy.
Sanders has raised more money this quarter than ANY Republican.
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