U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., covered many topics during his speech to the League of Kentucky Property Owners on Monday.
Paul talked about the rights of property owners, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Kentucky mussel and the Indiana bat.
The one thing that many in the crowd of about 100 anticipated from Paul, an endorsement in the Fourth District Congressional race, however, was not forthcoming.
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Paul strongly praised Thomas Massie, but stopped short of endorsing the Lewis County Judge-executive as his choice to replace U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Hebron, who is not seeking re-election.
Speculation was heightened when Massie preceded Paul at the podium and talked about his decision to support the senator’s 2010 campaign after hearing him speak at an event in Hebron.
“I decided then that if this wasn’t the guy to turn our country around, there wasn’t going to be a guy to turn our country around,” Massie said to loud applause.
Paul won election in 2010 with strong support from the Northern Kentucky Tea Party; Massie is also held in high esteem by the group.
The time seemed right for Paul to step to the microphone and give the crowd, which included many Tea Party members, what they seemed to want.
But he did not.
“I want to thank Thomas Massie for that kind introduction and I want to thank Thomas Massie for helping me get elected,” Paul said. “I want to thank Thomas Massie for doing something even more important and that’s for supporting a budget that balances within five years and no later.”
Paul added a few more plaudits, then went into a speech tailored to the audience of property owners and others gathered at the Boone County Cooperative Extension District office in Burlington.
In a recurring theme, Paul cited several examples of people burdened by government regulations.
“The list goes on and on of what we are doing to our folks,” Paul said. “It’s really disappointing that the unelected bureaucracy is bigger and more powerful than your elected officials.”
On April 23, Davis and former Sen. Jim Bunning endorsed State Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington, R-Fort Wright, for the congressional seat. That fueled speculation that Paul might follow suit and endorse Massie Monday.
Afterward, Paul elaborated on his decision to withhold the endorsement.
“I’ve been trying to stay out of it because I do know the other candidates and I don’t dislike them,” Paul said. “The endorsements that came out last week have maybe loosened me up a little bit. We need Republicans like Thomas Massie who will step up and say I will not only support a balanced budget amendment, but I will introduce and support a budget that actually balances.”
Massie, who had to leave early to attend a Republican Congressional Forum at Northern Kentucky University, said he was not disappointed that he did not get Paul’s endorsement.
“I feel like we have his support and he has been very helpful to us in a lot of ways ...” Massie said.
A total of seven candidates will face off in the May 22 Republican primary, including Massie, Webb-Edgington, Boone County Judge-executive Gary Moore, Owen County attorney Marcus Carey, Oldham County teacher Brian Oerther, Oldham County developer Walt Schumm and Fort Mitchell businessman Tom Wurtz.
Candidates in the Democratic primary include Greg Frank, of Corinth, and Grant County Democratic Party Chairman Bill Adkins.
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Originally Posted by Brian4Liberty
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