Warlord
06-02-2013, 10:32 AM
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Rand_Paul_%26_Jim_Bunning_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/800px-Rand_Paul_%26_Jim_Bunning_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg
Credit: Gage Skidmore
Rand seems pretty confident that he is "for sure" runing for US Senate in 2016 with recent comments to reporters.
If that's the case either KY has to change its ballot access law or if Rand runs for president and wins the GOP nomination the KY GOP runs someone else on their line in the state such as Jim Bunning whose Republican electors could then vote for Rand in the electoral college should Bunning carry the state. Bunning would be perfect for this as he's a former two term Republican senator and has familiarity and ability to act as an effective surrogate while Rand campaigns out of state if he's the nominee.
There was also talk in Lexington Herald leader newspaper of a bill in the General Assembly to change the law and allow someone to appear on the ballot twice but since Democrats control everything and might have an eye on the seat these considerations might be outweighed rather than to deliver a favorite son a political favor.
Appearing on the ballot twice in Nov 2016 should Rand be the nominee either through a placeholder like Bunning or if the law was modified is not without its risks as it will open the door to a shameless political opportunist such as Attorney General Jack Conway to make a populist bid for the Senate seat framing a message like "we need a senator from Kentucky". Rand would need to rely on the goodwill of Kentucky's voters, his fame, the constant press coverage and the work of surrogates within the state to make the case that they should elect him (or Bunning) as both president and senator. I think there's a good chance he'll have this goodwill and someone like Conway would fail but you never know.
Jim Bunning 2016!
I'm amazed not many folks have picked up on this angle. Even the Kentucky press and Trey Grayson haven't mentioned it and seem to have confined themselves to debate about various dates and if he can pull out of one or the other. Rand's comments suggests he's not pulling out of any contest and he wants to appear on the November ballot for US senate thus ensuring a good chance that whatever happens he has a political future after Jan 2017. How he achieves this we will soon find out.
Credit: Gage Skidmore
Rand seems pretty confident that he is "for sure" runing for US Senate in 2016 with recent comments to reporters.
If that's the case either KY has to change its ballot access law or if Rand runs for president and wins the GOP nomination the KY GOP runs someone else on their line in the state such as Jim Bunning whose Republican electors could then vote for Rand in the electoral college should Bunning carry the state. Bunning would be perfect for this as he's a former two term Republican senator and has familiarity and ability to act as an effective surrogate while Rand campaigns out of state if he's the nominee.
There was also talk in Lexington Herald leader newspaper of a bill in the General Assembly to change the law and allow someone to appear on the ballot twice but since Democrats control everything and might have an eye on the seat these considerations might be outweighed rather than to deliver a favorite son a political favor.
Appearing on the ballot twice in Nov 2016 should Rand be the nominee either through a placeholder like Bunning or if the law was modified is not without its risks as it will open the door to a shameless political opportunist such as Attorney General Jack Conway to make a populist bid for the Senate seat framing a message like "we need a senator from Kentucky". Rand would need to rely on the goodwill of Kentucky's voters, his fame, the constant press coverage and the work of surrogates within the state to make the case that they should elect him (or Bunning) as both president and senator. I think there's a good chance he'll have this goodwill and someone like Conway would fail but you never know.
Jim Bunning 2016!
I'm amazed not many folks have picked up on this angle. Even the Kentucky press and Trey Grayson haven't mentioned it and seem to have confined themselves to debate about various dates and if he can pull out of one or the other. Rand's comments suggests he's not pulling out of any contest and he wants to appear on the November ballot for US senate thus ensuring a good chance that whatever happens he has a political future after Jan 2017. How he achieves this we will soon find out.