Rand Paul for president?

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) travels to South Carolina this week, and two other significant presidential primary states next month, as part of a book tour... prompting 2012 speculation.

(Image credit: Facebook)

last updated 8 January 2015

Rand Paul, the newly-elected senator from Kentucky, is the latest Republican visiting three significant presidential primary states on a book tour, prompting speculation that he is mulling a White House bid. Paul visited South Carolina this week, and is due to visit Iowa on April 2 and New Hampshire on April 28. Quizzed on his intentions by the Charleston Post and Courier, Paul teasingly said: "The only decision I've made is I won't run against my dad." The elder Paul, of course, competed in the Republican primary race in 2008. Could his son be next?

Yes, he could be the Tea Party candidate: It's not inconceivable to imagine Paul making a run for president, says Joe Gandelman at The Moderate Voice. He would be guaranteed "solid Tea Party movement support," and he is "brimming with ideas." If nothing else, it would set up an "epic war within the GOP," with Paul the Tea Party candidate vs. the GOP's establishment candidate.