Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky entered the campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination Tuesday with a
declaration that he’s running for the White House to “return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government.”
That message posted on his website prefaced a kickoff speech later in the day in Louisville.
“I am running for president,” his web message said. In remarks to supporters, Paul could be counted on to be a fierce critic of Washington, where he is in his first term as a senator but seldom in line with his party’s leadership.
Paul’s challenge now is to convince Republican primary voters and caucus-goers that his is a vision worthy of the GOP presidential nomination, a prize twice denied his father, former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.
Paul begins the 2016 race as just the second fully declared candidate, behind Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, but he could face as many as 20 rivals for the nomination before the lead-off Iowa caucuses in February.
Along the way, Paul is likely to challenge (continue reading)