Rand Paul to Seek Re-Election for Senate, Not Ruling Out Presidential Run

[Spoa]

MIDWAY — While U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is being mentioned across the nation as a possible candidate for president in 2016, he wants Kentuckians to know that he plans to seek re-election as a senator that year.

Paul, before speaking at a Woodford County Republican dinner Friday night at Midway College, told reporters that he will seek re-election to the Senate.

But that does not mean he won't also be running for president.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/24/2...#storylink=cpy

Will he run or stay in the senate?

[Warlord]

Jim Bunning for president and Rand for Senate in KY... that's how i'd do it.

[compromise]

According to Collins, he just won't run for president in Kentucky. The race is over before the Kentucky primary.

[klamath]

Rand can run in the first three primaries for president, If he loses them he can concentrate on senate reelection.

[Warlord]

If it's not him and Bunning on the ballot in Nov he risks losing his senate seat should he lose the presidency and if he's the nominee.

Idea:

• Comer to run and win governorship in 2015
• Rand runs for/wins GOP nomination.
• Bunning to run for President on GOP line in Kentucky
• Rand to run for Senate
• Bunning wins KY's electors, they vote for Rand in the electoral college
• Rand wins presidency resigns senate seat, Comer appoints Republican
• Rand loses presidency he still retains a seat in the United States Senate

[Brett85]

I think he should just concentrate on running for President and forget about the Senate. He could just endorse Massie for the Senate and we could get Massie into the Senate.

[tsai3904]

This is the best option:

There also is talk of a possible bill in next year's Kentucky General Assembly to change the state law so a candidate's name could appear on a ballot more than once if he or she ran for different offices.

[Brett85]

According to Collins, he just won't run for president in Kentucky. The race is over before the Kentucky primary.

But if he wins the primary he can't be on the ballot for the Senate in the general election. They would have to find a replacement for him for the Senate race, which I've read would be hard to do according to Kentucky's election laws.

[Warlord]

See my idea above.

[supermario21]

Republicans need to win the 2015 elections. This will be a moot point if that happens.

[RickyJ]

Republicans need to win the 2015 elections. This will be a moot point if that happens.

What 2015 elections? And why would it be a moot point if Republicans took the Senate and kept the house in 2014? Rand is running for president, he has done everything so far to set that up, barring a major obstacle between now and his announcement in late 2014 to run.

[Brett85]

What 2015 elections? And why would it be a moot point if Republicans took the Senate and kept the house in 2014? Rand is running for president, he has done everything so far to set that up, barring a major obstacle between now and his announcement in late 2014 to run.

The next Governor's race in Kentucky is in 2015.

[Brett85]

I don't think it's really out of the question that the Democrats in Kentucky could vote to allow Rand to run for two offices at once. The Democrats in Kentucky aren't nearly as partisan or as liberal as the national Democrats.

[RickyJ]

The next Governor's race in Kentucky is in 2015.

OK, I see now. BTW, Rand would make a good governor too, but I would rather he run for president.

[Warlord]

Republicans need to win the 2015 elections. This will be a moot point if that happens.

it can happen.

[Warlord]

I don't think it's really out of the question that the Democrats in Kentucky could vote to allow Rand to run for two offices at once. The Democrats in Kentucky aren't nearly as partisan or as liberal as the national Democrats.

They probably won't because they want his seat.

Unless we establish Kentucky Democrats for Rand Paul and start writing to them via lifelong Democrats who support Rand.

[Brett85]

The Democrats in Kentucky might think they'll have a better chance of defeating Rand in his Senate race if he's distracted by a Presidential run, which is why I think they might actually go along with changing the law and allowing Rand to run for two offices at once.

[LibertyEagle]

The Democrats in Kentucky might think they'll have a better chance of defeating Rand in his Senate race if he's distracted by a Presidential run, which is why I think they might actually go along with changing the law and allowing Rand to run for two offices at once.

Rand will be so popular by then, they won't be able to touch him.

[Warlord]

I'm not sure if they will. They'd rather Rand not run for his senate seat so they can snatch it.

Unless we pressure them via grassroots Democrats who support Rand. Lots voted for him in 2010. The Dem are the big party in Kentucky though it's not liberal. Kind of like Arkansas. They will listen but i'm not sure if they will act.

[Warlord]

If Rand is adamant he's on the November ballot for US senate then they will probably run Bunning on the GOP line for president.

Unless he can get the law changed.

It's good news either way because it ensures that Rand will have a political career whatever happens.

Good for us anyway that he's planning on sticking around for at least the next decade to change the party.

[Aratus]

in 2015 or 2016... should we rename these forums???
lets split things between a high gear potus or senate
campaign, lets have the RONPAULFORUMs inside the
larger RANDPAULFORUMs as we build up a momentum!

[brandon]

Rand can run in the first three primaries for president, If he loses them he can concentrate on senate reelection.

When is the kentucky primary and how do they appoint delegates? In any case this probably is his best option.

[Warlord]

Warlord believes this is fine...

Bryan has said it's staying the way it is with some slight changes to moderate it better I think.

It will give the new comers the chance to check out General Politics or the Economics forum and also learn about the other great candidates we promote. There's no need for a separate site but thank God Josh got the randpaulforums.com domain. That was smart and the brand is thus protected from would be bandits.

[Aratus]

agreed. saw today's news
about the domain names.

[brandon]

If Rand is adamant he's on the November ballot for US senate then they will probably run Bunning on the GOP line for president.

Unless he can get the law changed.

It's good news either way because it ensures that Rand will have a political career whatever happens.

Good for us anyway that he's planning on sticking around for at least the next decade to change the party.

first time ive heard this. Do you mean bunning would just run in ky?

[Aratus]

if Jim Bunning doesn't want to be fussed over too greatly, we could thank Trey Grayson for being such a good sport in 2010
and ask him to be a favorite son for Kentucky. I do not want poor lil ole KY to be in the column of the "sweatervester" ever!

[Aratus]

we all need someone who knows how to run an effective campaign, who will be willing to be taken seriously by the voters.
if there are no likely contenders who are happily willing to go favorite son, even Gurley L. Martin might humour the idea!!!

[Warlord]

first time ive heard this. Do you mean bunning would just run in ky?

Yes and if he wins (everyone would know Rand is running for president since it'll be on TV everyday and they will all know its really him) his electors vote Rand Paul when the electoral college is convened.

This is a way to have him virtually on the November ballot twice and get round the Kentucky law and so if he loses the presidential through the electoral college and wins the Senate seat in KY he is still a US senator. If he got 270+ electoral votes he just resigns the senate seat and moves into the White House.

KYGOP would maybe have to change some bylaws to pull it off. That's not a problem.

Addressed here:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...=1#post5043404

[Aratus]

Mitch McConnell once wrote a college thesis on Henry Clay.
there are days when Jesse Benton can be approached and
talked to. Lets keep the KY vote tally away from Rick S. or
even Marco Rubio. the GOP has its own reasons and regs!!!
any serious rival to Rand needs to hustle for each delegate.
hand nothing on a silver platter to anyone else in the running!

[Aratus]

we need to ask former senator jim bunning first before we go to anyone else. he knows his politics
and understands why there were often charismatic favorite sons garnering delegates in yesteryear.