Rand Paul announces 2016 presidential campaign

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday announced on his website that he is joining the 2016 White House race.

"I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government," the freshman lawmaker said.

Late Sunday, Paul teased his expected bid with a video declaring he would, if elected, "defeat the Washington machine." Paul is expected to formally declare his candidacy later Tuesday at a rally in Louisville, making him just the second major candidate, after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), to get in the race.

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