Rand Paul files for presidential caucus
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul signed the requisite paperwork on Monday to run for re-election in 2016 and enter the Kentucky Republican presidential caucus. Members of his Senate staff planned to file the paperwork later in the day in Frankfort.
He is the fifth Republican to file for the GOP caucus in Kentucky. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Ted Cruz, businessman Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson have already registered.
With his presidential campaign lagging in the polls, Paul officially registered for both races by making his pitch to expand the Republican Party by reaching out to African Americans who long ago abandoned the GOP.
The caucus registration papers must be filed with the Republican Party of Kentucky, along with a $15,000 filing fee. The re-election papers must be filed with the secretary of state.
"We are still the party of equal opportunity, we are still the party of emancipation, but now we also want to be the party of opportunity," he told the crowd gathered in a building that houses the Jefferson County Republican Party's West End office.
"It is my goal in running for the presidency and in running for re-election, to talk about ... how our ideas on how we overcome poverty are different from the other party's," Paul said.
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In introducing him, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Vanceburg, painted a picture of Paul as a man before his time.
He noted that Paul was an early critic of U.S. efforts to oust Middle Eastern dictators such as Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, opposed the Patriot Act early on and pressed for the federal government to audit the Federal Reserve Bank.
"He was trying to have these discussions when they needed to be had," Massie said.
Massie also told Paul supporters not to fret about polling that shows him mired in the single digits, noting that almost every poll showed Gov.-elect Matt Bevin trailing Attorney General Jack Conway before Bevin scored a near-landslide.
"I have been to Iowa, I have campaigned for Sen. Paul as a surrogate for his presidential race and his ground team there is amazing," Massie said. "The difference between polls and reality is voter enthusiasm and turnout and the people that support Sen. Paul, they will crawl through glass to go vote."
Paul was joined at the event by a host of prominent Republicans. Bevin and Lt. Gov.-elect Jenean Hampton signed his filing papers, attesting to the fact that they believe he is qualified to run for the Senate.
The signing was simply a formality. Paul announced his campaign for the presidency last April and and has steadfastly held to his plan to also seek re-election to the Senate despite a state law that prohibits candidates from appearing on the ballot twice in most cases. To allow Paul to seek both nominations, the Kentucky Republican Party agreed to break with tradition and hold a presidential caucus, rather than a primary, that would allow him to run for both nominations in the state.
That, however, doesn't solve the problem for the general election if he wins both nominations.
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In signing his documents, Paul signed the paper to enter the presidential caucus first and then signed his re-election paper.
Paul said during a press conference that his decision to file for both offices doesn't indicate a lack of confidence in his presidential campaign but is a realization that there are numerous candidates and that winning is not guaranteed.
"I think what it reflects is that people see my voice as a unique voice in the U.S. Senate and they want my voice to be heard nationally, and while I am an optimist, everybody knows there is 10, 15 other men and women running," he said, noting that other candidates have run for president and vice president while running for re-election to Senate seats. "I don't think it really signifies anything other than I still want to be part of the debate one way or the other."
State Republican Party Chairman Mac Brown welcomed Paul into the caucus field.
"Sen. Paul's filing for the March 5th presidential caucus is exciting news for Kentucky Republicans, and I welcome the participation of our home state senator," he said. "The Republican Party of Kentucky's decision to hold our first ever presidential caucus has given our state a significant role in choosing the next Republican nominee for president."
Joseph Gerth can be reached at 502-582-4702 or jgerth@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Gerth.