Dr. Ron Paul’s son, Rand Paul, has formed an exploratory campaign for U.S. Senate from Kentucky. Rand Paul is similar to his father in ideology; he favors a strict application of the Constitution to federal government matters, thus opposes the Federal Reserve Bank and the U.S. Department of Education and supports lower taxes and less spending.

A grass-roots movement formed several months ago to draft Dr. Rand Paul to run for the U.S. Senate after incumbent Republican Senator Jim Bunning. Bunning has left hints he may not run for reelection. Bunning, who had a career spanning 15 years in Major League Baseball prior to election to Congress, has polling numbers as low as 28 percent in Kentucky. He has also openly feuded with the establishment Republican Senator from Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The 45-year-old Dr. Rand Paul became a medical doctor (opthamologist) after graduating from Duke medical school, the same medical school his obstetrician father attended. “We believe that the Republican Party in many ways has lost their believability on issues like the deficit.” Dr. Paul told supporters on his exploratory campaign website. “We have a chance to win in this primary.”

Dr. Paul has already garnered more than $64,000 in donations in addition to more than 2,700 supporters on his Facebook cause.

Rand Paul has never stood for elective office himself, but he hasn’t avoided the political limelight either. In 1984 (at 21-years-old), he stood in for his father Ron Paul to debate U.S. Senate candidate Phil Gramm. Dr. Rand Paul has been head of Kentucky Taxpayers United for the past 15 years, and has worked for his father's campaigns since he was 11-years-old, according to his father, Dr. Ron Paul in an on-line endorsement.

Dr. Paul will not likely seek the Republican nomination alone, as Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson has also formed an exploratory committee to run for the Republican senate nomination. Grayson is seen as the hand-picked candidate by Mitch McConnell, and Democrats are claiming they can beat either Bunning or Grayson in a general election. “We feel that Democrats can pick up Kentucky’s senate seat whether Sen. Bunning or Senator McConnell’s handpicked candidate Trey Grayson is running.” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Eric Schultz told CBSNews.com.

With the nationwide rejection of establishment Republicans in the past two congressional election cycles, Rand Paul's strict constitutionalism may be the GOP’s only hope of holding on to the Kentucky senate seat.
 

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Travis said:

... With the nationwide rejection of establishment Republicans in the past two congressional election cycles, Rand Paul's strict constitutionalism may be the GOP’s only hope of holding on to the Kentucky senate seat. AGREED

June 06, 2009

rick said:

Update the numbers As of June 6 at5:25pm EDT Donations are over $67,000 Facebook is 4596 supporters

June 06, 2009

Charlie Cross said:

wow.... An article that doesn't just pan old right republicans and freedom-loving americans ---- congrats on a new subscriber!

June 06, 2009

Pathenry said:

Jeffersonians unite While we need more of Dr. Paul's family in Congress (!) that alone will not suffice. Every Constitution Party candidate for local and state offices, as well as federal, will help, with Paulites (etc.) to create the pressure needed to get our policies passed, limiting government. Same goes for electing Libertarians. As Ds or Rs must vote our way on key issues or lose to other candidates, they will do so. They know where their bread is buttered. Thus it is not an either/or strategy, but both/and -- both within existing parties AND by creating and promoting a true 2nd party wherever we can. Both working at the federal level, AND at state and more local jurisdictions, since they have authority to say NO to federal "legislation" that is illegal because it oversteps Constitutional bounds. Doctrine of the lesser magistrate. And, oh yes: Go, Dr. Rand Paul!

June 08, 2009

Marcus said:

Senator Paul The thing about the Paul family is that you never have to guess where they stand. You always know they'll say what they mean and mean what they say. I thought we got rid of the lies and liars with George Bush, but Obama is no different. We don't need to win a single national election in order to change this country. We can do it at the grassroots without the consent of the Republicrats.

June 08, 2009 | url

Chap said:

... The national establishment Republicans are directed by the same ideology or influence as the Democrats. I hope and believe your grass root support can get Rand Paul nominated, but beware the Republican party will try to throw the election to the Democrat with innuendo, silence or even statements raising public questioning support of Paul. We wish Kentuckians the best, and that would be a Senator Paul.

June 09, 2009