Rand Paul plans to slam Trump as a 'fake conservative' in tonight's GOP debate
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Rand Paul says he isn't going to let Donald Trump get off so easy the second time around. The Kentucky senator tells Politico that he thinks he treaded a little too lightly around Trump in the first GOP debate, so during tonight's debate he's planning to step up his game and confront The Donald as a "fake conservative."
"I think I'll probably try to be a little more aggressive with him," Paul told Politico, adding that Trump is "sophomoric in his diatribe" and that "his rhetoric seems to be stuck in junior high."
With Trump soaring in the polls — he's ahead of Paul by 24 points in the latest CBS News/New York Times poll — Paul says he plans to use the debate to "try to grab the attention of the American electorate."
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Numbers don't change from being passive," Paul said. "You either go out and... try to grab the attention of the American electorate or you don't."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com