WASHINGTON (CNN) – Dr. Rand Paul, the son of former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, announced Thursday night that he is forming an exploratory committee to to challenge Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning in a Republican primary.
Paul made the announcement Thursday night on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show.
Paul had said previously that he would not throw his hat in the ring if Bunning decided to run for reelection. Bunning - seen as one of the weakest Republicans in the 2010 race - has said that he will run again, but Paul said he doesn't necessarily trust that the two-term Kentucky senator will follow through.
"I think the problem is that every time a reporter asks Jim Bunning, are you running, their follow up question is, Jim, are you really running," Paul said. He said Bunning has done some "unusual things" and said, "What I hate to see is a politician who might go all the way up to the deadline and pull their papers out an hour before and then you have one candidate and there's no real primary."
Since his announcement, Paul said he has raised over $12,000, according to his campaign Web site. Paul's conservative views are very similar to those of his father, who garnered a major grassroots following during his run for president last year.
From CNN Politics
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If you can create more jobs than this stimulus and make sure that the stimulus money being spent on liberal social programs STOPS IMMEDIATELY, you have my vote...I dont care if youre republican or democrat
At least his brand of republicanism doesn't love torture and hate minorities – especially gays, and seeks to implement a theocracy to regulate all of our lives according to the sick right wing interpretation of the Bible – like the Islamic extremists. But we still need a Democrat in that seat.
This is great for Ron Paul.
But righ now the more important issue is the “noise” is being raised by Newt Gingrich and the Republicans - once again trying to stone wall any investigation of illegal activities by the Bush Administration.
Newt Gingrich is the guy who tied up our government for 7 years and wasted nearly a billion dollars investigating whether someone gave Bill Clinton a blow job in the White House.
This is the Newt Gingrich who himself was keeping an illicit concubine while he was chasing after Clinton and singing the right-wing Christian “holier than thou mantra”!
To the newbie to politics: this is the not first time the Republicans have tried to stonewall a criminal investigation of their party by throwing up a wall of noise. This is the same tactic they used when Nixon turned the Whitehouse into a gang of burglars, and then issued him a pardon. Sound familiar?
Forget the “noise”. The ONLY real question here is: Did the Whitehouse use illegal torture to try to coerce an Iraqi Politician into a false admission that Hussein was connected with Alcaida?
Mr. Rightwing Mouth and Adulterer Gingrich should stop being a treasonous accomplice to high crimes by the Bush Administration.
Awesome! We need more liberty lovers in government who respect the constitution and work for the better meant of the people, not themselves!
Oh Lord, this is one too many Pauls for my tastes. Just like two Bush's is way OVER the limit as well.
If he has the same beliefs and qualities as his father, then I hope he runs and wins. I wish Ron Paul would have been the Republican candidate for last years presidential election. He speaks common sense and has a good head on his shoulders. We need people that are practical and capable of making sound decisions.
Go Rand Go, we need you now more than ever.
He sounds just like his dad.
Every body in politics, in government, democrat, republicans,bakers, always lie. No body is honest and ever tell truth. It is from top to bottom. From President down to any body, could be news reporter, any media
person all are same. There no need to find who is telling truth. It will be waste of efforts.
Ah what might have been. Good luck to the younger Paul, and best wishes to his honorable father, who actually would have brought real change that we could believe in to Washington. Obama is the polar opposite of a reformer, he is the lap dog of the banks, and it is painfully obvious, too late.
Bunning for Paul no real win
We're behind you 100% Rand...and not just Kentuckians, even some of us out here on the west coast. It was my pleasure to donate my hard earned dollars to you last night and more will be coming. I wish you the best of luck.
In Liberty,
CL
Dr. Paul must not be very smart for appearing on the Rachel Maddow Show. Her audience consists of about 238 left wing nuts who wouldn't vote for him anyway. I question his decision making abilities for that alone.
Hura, finally we are getting a real conservative in the senate?
If Rand Paul wins the Senate Seat he could be the GOP nominee in 2016.
I watched his appearance on the Rachel Maddow show last night. Just another Republican. Couldn't even get the name of the Democratic Party right.
I haven't voted for a Repub since the Newt's contract on America. If they can replace the current wasted load of angry, arrogant, and ignorant old people with normal people I would consider voting for a non-invasive Republican like Dr. Paul.
Extremism from any and all religions is, and has been, the greatest threat to the human species.
"We have seen the enemy and he is us."
DaBird;
Many millions watch The Rachel Maddow show, not all are 'left wing nuts', although I think the 'left wing nut' audience is a lot bigger than 238. I know it's a intellectual challenge for you, but try to do better research.
I bet you watch the right wing Glen Beck wacko rant for all your 'facts', he's a favorite of the mentally-ill faction of the Republican party (most of them).
I am happy to see him run and hope he wins the election. I'm sick of the fsacist, liberals. "Liberals", what a contradiction of term, they are the ones who want to control everyone else who doesn't agree with them. It shows through every time I read their hate spewing comments in i-reports or just under, add a comment. The religous right they are so vehmenant towards believe in freedom of choices that are morally upheld in our countries constitution. The constitution of the United States of America; love it or leave it- please!!!!
I am not a Republican, but I listened to him last night and he sounds like a- new generation- of thinkers that the GOP should listen to.
They won’t though..
If he has his father's principles, I'm all for it!
Dabird, you really show you have a volatile brain.
To show up on Maddow is to demonstrate this guy is able to sustain an argument even with someone from the left, someone with who he shares most positions on social issues anyway. Your partisan politics only demonstrate your ignorance and you incapability to argue beyond your right-wing sandbox. Pathetic.
son of liberty
Go, Rand!
What part of the U.S. Constitution authorizes the federal government to be the employer of last resort? Please cite the relevant section. If you can.
lets chug a jug on dat Jed,Bunning is an overrated hasbeen.
He won't get any traction. Paul is an odd fellow who seems to abhor government. He is on the extreme right wing of th e political spectrum.
What is that I hear??
Neocon heads exploding all across this great land....
All blood....no brains....
Good luck, Paul the Younger.
Even though I fundamentally disagree with you, your brand of conservatism is at least intellectually honest.
Respect for the constitution used to be something you could count on from Republicans before the neo-cons took over. Sweep out the neo-cons and y'all might just have a party again. I am a liberal Democrat but I have come to recognize that most of the people in this county are in the middle and they want the Democrats to stay out of their wallets and the Republicans to stay out of their bedroooms.
If we can get Bush's war of choice shut down that will do wonders for peoples wallets. Ron Paul had that part right and I hope is son does too.
It's too bad he can't run for Senator in Indiana
Libertarians: They vote Republican but claim not to be Republicans.
Ron Paul is a nutball, not to mention author of multiple white supremacist writings. Is that the change you Paul supporters would like to have? I say no more Bushes, no more Cheneys, no more Pauls, no more Palins... Hey, here's an idea: No more GOP! Let's just choose between the Democrats and the Greens. Now that's change I could believe in!
Lucky for Kentucky residents, Dr. Paul is not a stimulus supporter! Rather, he supports a return to constitutional government with sound money and civil liberties– much the same platform of his dad, a ten-term Congressman from Texas and two time former presidential candidate, Ron Paul.
Everyone do your share to end the scarry growth of government (on a never before seen scale) by supporting those such as the Dr. Pauls (
hehehe).
Good day!
Curran in Michigan
Ya know i am no fan of Nancy's and thinks she does more harm than good for the party but ol Newt is an absolut idiot anyway and it's kind of the pot calling the kettle black. He should go away.
No More Pauls Please. Two Bushes and Two Doles are too much.
Obama is paying lawyers to hide his birth certificate. We know that fact because his lawyers answers to suits all over the country are public record. There’s nothing crazier than a President hiding his birth certificate. People need to know that fact."
Good luck Rand Paul. This country needs people like you to clean up the mess in Washington.
Good luck, Rand Paul. I think your brand of Republican is good for the Republican party, You have different ideas, but at least, you debate in a civil manner, and you trample on people's lifestyle. But then, I am a Democrat, what do I know.
Correction. Rand Paul do not trample on people's lifestyle as the Republican Party threaten to do.
My utter revulsion with Ayn Rand is clouding my judgement.
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WAY better than Palin. Way. And I am a born and raised Democrat, consider myself apolitical since 2000. The GOP needs to look at serious, thoughtful candidates like Paul instead of loudmouth uneducated types.
DaBird, I have to disagree with you. I occasionally watch Maddow's show on MSNBC and some may even think I'm a "left-wing nut". However, I'd vote for Dr. Ron Paul any day of the week. He has true conviction, and although I disagree on some of his stances, he is sensible and a true leader.
When will these right-wing extremists quit embarrassing the good people of the great state of Texas? Remember this family of anti-choice zealots are physicians that believe that they should be able to deny someone care based upon their faith or sexual orientation. Sorry 1950 was almost six decades ago and society moves forwards not backwards.
When will these right-wing extremists quit embarrassing the good people of the great state of Texas? Remember this family of anti-choice zealots are physicians that believe that they should be able to deny someone care based upon their faith or sexual orientation. Sorry 1950 was almost six decades ago and society moves forwards not backwards.
Rand Paul would be a very good senator for the people of Kentucky.
Senator Bunning can feel confident in passing the torch to young Dr. Paul.
As a Kentuckian I proudly endorse Rand Paul for Senate.
Best wishes, I'm a democrat and you are a breath of fresh air to the republican side. As far as liberal programs are concerned, if keeping people from starving to death under a bridge is a liberal program. thank God I am a liberal.
The last CONSERVATIVE administration has enough death on it's record. Time for the living. Time for America. But again, best wishes.
If Ron Paul had been the GOP nominee in 2008, I would have voted Obama. If his son wins the seat in Kentucky, I'm changing my registration to Democrat.
Hey DaBird:
I couldn't disagree more. I watch Rachel faithfully and would have no problem voting for any libertarian/republican/conservative, the problem is not many of them make any sense nowadays. Ron and son Rand are definitely two guys I could get with.
Repugs don't even trust one another to do what they say they will do. Sheesh!