For weeks now Rand Paul has been considering a run for US Senate in Kentucky, anticipating that Sen. Bunning will retire. This week he let it be known that he would be making a major announcement on national television, on the Rachel Maddow show on Thursday. Now, a mere one hour before the show, I have discovered their as-of-yet unannounced decision (though it’s pretty clear by their actions). RandPaul2010.com is a website that has gone active within the last couple of hours and is obviously the official campaign website for Rand Paul’s run for US Senate in Kentucky.
Ron Paul, Rand Paul’s father, was a 2008 Presidential candidate, is a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party, and was their 1988 Presidential candidate. During that time, it is rumored that Rand changed his name from “Randy” in order to pay homage to Ayn Rand. He worked for both his father’s Libertarian and Republican presidential campaigns in 1988 and 2008. It is highly likely that he will be endorsed by both the Libertarian Party and Constitution Party of Kentucky. He has said that he will work to improve ballot-access laws at the Federal level, like his father.
Rand is an ophthalmologist based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he has lived for the past 18 years. He is also the founder of the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that performs eye exams and surgery for less fortunate patients.
Additionally, Dr. Rand Paul founded the Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) in 1994. KTU rates the state legislature’s tax honesty and helps promote the Americans for Tax Reform taxpayer pledge, to oppose any and all marginal income tax increases and any reduction in tax deductions.
The entrance of Rand Paul into this US Senate race is the culmination of a draft effort by PEAC-PAC, the people who financed and built Rand2010.com, a draft website which is now re-directing to Schiff2010.com, an effort to draft Peter Schiff to run for US Senate in Connecticut.
Update: Here is the video.
49 responses so far ↓
1 Susan Hogarth // May 14, 2009 at 8:34 pm
It is highly likely that he will be endorsed by both the Libertarian Party and Constitution Party of Kentucky.
What do you base this on, Trent?
2 HumbleTravis // May 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Is PEAC only involved in persuading candidates to run, or will they help to fundraise during the actual campaigns?
3 Trent Hill // May 14, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Susan,
Talks with various Libertarian and Constitution Party folks in both states.
Travis,
Only in draft efforts. Though I believe some of the guys involved with PEAC are now going to work for the Rand Paul campaign.
4 Eric Dondero // May 14, 2009 at 9:35 pm
No rumor. It is indeed fact. I was there when Randy changed his name in 1988. He was obssessed with the rock band Rush at the time, and getting his Dad to meet with them, cause of their fascination with Ayn Rand’s philosophy. Randy even spoke directly with one of the band members of Rush at one point, but failed to get an endorsement for Ron’s Libertarian Presidential campaign.
Eric Dondero, Travel Aide
Libertarian Party Presidential candidate
Ron Paul 1987/88
PS Randy’s Dad thought he was being a bit “weird,” at first when he announced his decision to family, friends and campain staff. At first nobody took it seriously. But a few months later, he did go to the courthouse here in Texas and g0t it changed.
5 Trent Hill // May 14, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Eric,
You’ll forgive me if I dont take your stories as fact, you have some pretty outlandish ones.
But I’v confirmed it with others.
6 Melty // May 14, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I thought it had to do with the golden krugerrand
7 Michael Cavlan // May 14, 2009 at 10:59 pm
It looks lie he is running as a Republican.
Too bad. As an aside, when I spoke at the End The Fed rally in Minneapolis April 24th, Dr Randy Paul was also one of the speakers.
I met him, seemed like a nice chap.
8 Andy // May 14, 2009 at 11:57 pm
This should be huge!
9 Trent Hill // May 15, 2009 at 12:38 am
Michael,
The fact that he is a Republican is a good thing. He has a chance to win.
10 Chuck Moulton // May 15, 2009 at 2:05 am
I hope small-L libertarians swarm to elect another Ron Paul Republican.
Although I felt it would have been a conflict of interest to donate to Ron Paul’s presidential campaign while I was on the LNC, I don’t feel so constrained now that I’m off the LNC. I sent Rand Paul $100 already and I’ll send more if there are money bombs.
11 Peter Orvetti // May 15, 2009 at 3:37 am
This will be a very interesting campaign. Incumbent Republican Jim Bunning has given mixed signals about whether he will run, and he is publicly at odds with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who also happens to be the other Kentucky senator.
Bunning openly encouraged Secretary of State Trey Grayson to enter the GOP race, but as of last weekend, Bunning himself is still running. State Senate President David Williams may also enter the GOP race. It’s not likely that Paul will win the primary, but if it gets divided enough, and he gets enough financial support, who knows?
I know there was briefly some talk of Rand Paul running for the ’08 LP presidential nomination after his dad passed on it. This Senate run shows he’s not averse to running for office, so maybe in ’12 he’ll consider it.
12 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 4:15 am
I’d like to see someone run as a Progressive Libertarian Alliance Independent here & have a real NON RP/RP chance to actually win. & be the beginning of the end of this RP/RP nonsense.
13 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 4:27 am
Why doesn’t some well wisher inform Randy about the Progressive Libertarian Alliance Strategy? He could possibly win that route & forsake the God-forsaken RP. I have little problem with Ronulan Paulnuts other than their association with the RP/GOP & the guaranteed loser CP.
14 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 5:17 am
Did I just hear Congressman Ron Paul to be on Morning Joe?
15 Robert Capozzi // May 15, 2009 at 5:43 am
Interesting development. I was skeptical when I saw the headline. However, based on this interview, I’d say this guy seems prime time to me. Jumping into Senatorial politics is challenging and is often done by the mega-wealthy…Corzine and Metzenbaum come to mind.
So, I’d say the bar on its face is high for Paul. It sounds like he’s pretty much a Ron Paul Republican, which I’ve some quibbles with, but in concept this seems like a step forward for liberty.
Rand doesn’t seem to have his Dad’s propensity to ramble and get obscure. Even when he described the 19 year old talking about the dollar, Rand told the story crisply.
16 Third Party Revolution // May 15, 2009 at 5:45 am
Well he still is with the Republican Party, so we won’t endorse him.
17 dont judge a book.... // May 15, 2009 at 8:20 am
wow u guys are really stuck on the party thing, thats a shame, instead u should think of it as a independent trojan horse, rand paul is a independent regardless if he is a republican
18 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 10:46 am
We don’t need no stinking Trojan Horses.
19 logicprobe // May 15, 2009 at 10:48 am
Party, shmarty. Vote for the person, not the label.
20 Seriously? // May 15, 2009 at 10:53 am
That’s very cute, Mr. Milnes. I’ll remember that when I see one of your party’s candidates in the oval office. That’s one thing I’ve always admired about the Pauls…a focus on PRINCIPLE as opposed to PARTY. Who are any of us to whine about this corrupt 2-party system when we won’t even vote for the person who best represents our views, due to a label?
21 Libertarian Joseph // May 15, 2009 at 11:30 am
Rand won’t win. But the LP should endorse him. Will he be running as GOP?
22 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Seriously?, because the party matters & the labels matter. Obama is flip-flopping. Because he is trying to pursue progressive/liberal & the conservatives & centrists are holding him back. ALL DEMOCRATS. The progressives need to split off from the democrats. The Ronulan Paulnuts need to split off from the RP & CP. The libertarians need to throw their bloc in with the progressives. Or lose.
23 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I don’t need no stinking party.
24 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 3:17 pm
As it stands my LP & GP memberships have lapsed I think. I have no party & am pursuing Independent. Until one or the other or both endorse the Progressive Alliance Strategy.
25 Leymann Feldenstein // May 15, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Somebody on the NJLP website has endorsed Robert Milnes for President in 2012.
I guess that makes two of us.
26 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Leymann Feldenstein, why don’t you select a ballot, Congress, State legislature, governor, mayor, city council etc. & become a candidate & endorse the Progressive Alliance Strategy?
27 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 4:03 pm
That makes three. I endorse me too!
28 Susan Hogarth // May 15, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Party, shmarty. Vote for the person, not the label.
That makes more sense from the individual voter perspective than from the perspective of a Party as an organization.
29 Fred Church Ortiz // May 15, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Milnes’ support is really snowballing. Maybe by 2013 there’ll be six of them.
The article makes it sound as if RandPaul2010.com is re-directing to Schiff2010.com, as opposed to PEAC shifting focus.
30 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Susan, spoken like a libertarian woman southern progressive libertarian alliance wannabe!?
31 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 7:15 pm
vp wannabe.
32 Robert Milnes // May 15, 2009 at 7:20 pm
!?
33 Trent Hill // May 16, 2009 at 12:13 am
“The article makes it sound as if RandPaul2010.com is re-directing to Schiff2010.com, as opposed to PEAC shifting focus”
I dont see him. It says quite clearly that the draft site, Rand2010 is redirecting to Schiff2010.
RandPaul2010 isn’t mentioned in that paragraph.
34 Fred Church Ortiz // May 16, 2009 at 2:31 am
My bad, assumed text was there that wasn’t.
35 Sean Scallon // May 17, 2009 at 9:19 am
Since its a primary campaign, all non-major party groups in Kentucky, should work for Rand Paul’s election and be his activist base.
36 paul adams // May 19, 2009 at 2:09 am
just like the goldwaters in reverse. Instead of Barry Sr. in the Senate and Barry Jr. in the House…We are going to have Ron in the House and Rand in the Senate. Viva la Revolution.
37 Larry West // May 19, 2009 at 11:08 pm
As a Kentuckian actively involved in trying to return the local Republican Party to actual Republican (small government) values, I favor the entry of Rand Paul as a Republican as it will increase the number of like-minded people into being active in the party, whether Rand wins or loses. Of course, I am a computer professional over 30, so what do I know. (See the video for Rand Paul’s implied endorsement of age discrimination in the computer industry.)
Unfortunately, there is no way for Paul to run as a Libertarian or Independent if he loses the primary as va Republican [similar to Lieberman and Connecticut] as under Kentucky law, you must be a member of the party you are running on as of Dec. 31st of the previous year. If both Secretary of State Trey Grayson and State Senate Leader David Williams run, then Rand Paul may be able to slip in a victory since the two will be attacking each other.
38 Trent Hill // May 20, 2009 at 2:44 pm
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/026871.html
Eric–this is why I don’t trust you.
39 Irish in NY // May 25, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Maybe if people were more worried about the ideas and principles of the indivisuals involved in the race,rather than what label they’re attached to,we’d be better off.
Besides,surely lumping all people from a certain party together is a very anti-libertarian minset to have.
Sounds quite collectivist to me. I judge every candidate as an individual…like a true libertarian.I dont even like the label “Libertarian”!!
40 Third Party Revolution // Nov 23, 2009 at 9:09 pm
For all those independents and third party supporters who TRULY want to bring down the two party system; John Long, a Convenience Store Operator, Retired Police Officer & ’06 GOP Boyle County Sheriff Nominee, has just filed to run as an independent. And I am confirming this from multiple sources.
41 paulie // Nov 23, 2009 at 9:37 pm
On the radio show there was some talk about Rand Paul possibly being a warmonger.
Anyone know more?
42 Third Party Revolution // Nov 24, 2009 at 3:16 pm
He supports the war in Afghanistan but opposes the war in Iraq.
43 Darryl W. Perry // Nov 24, 2009 at 4:20 pm
http://www.randpaul2010.com/2009/11/rand-paul-try-convict-and-lock-up-terrorists-in-guantanamo/
For Immediate Release
November 19, 2009
BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY – Leading United States Senate candidate Rand Paul today criticized the Obama administration’s decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center and try terrorism suspects in United States Civil Courts.
“Foreign terrorists do not deserve the protections of our Constitution,” said Dr. Paul. “These thugs should stand before military tribunals and be kept off American soil. I will always fight to keep Kentucky safe and that starts with cracking down on our enemies.”
Dr. Paul believes in strong national defense and thinks military spending should be our country’s top budget priority. He has also called for a Constitutional declaration of war with Afghanistan.
44 George Phillies // Nov 24, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Good to see the Republicans have found yet another candidate who does not believe in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
45 George Phillies // Nov 24, 2009 at 4:54 pm
And like Republicans
“Dr. Paul believes in strong national defense and thinks military spending should be our country’s top budget priority.”
he’s an active supporter of welfare, so long as it’s defense contractor welfare.
46 Third Party Revolution // Nov 24, 2009 at 7:51 pm
So how are the polls showing in this race?
47 Ross Levin // Nov 24, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I think I saw one where Rand Paul had a slight lead over the other Republicans.
48 Sandra Limpert // Jul 27, 2011 at 11:17 am
Yep, all you Rand Paul supporters – how do you feel now? Has he done ANYTHING to even hint at ballot initiatives in Kentucky? NO. Nothing. ZIP. NADA. He’s an obstructionist, period. Well, also insane, but….
49 NewFederalist // Jul 27, 2011 at 11:40 am
He is also a United States Senator NOT a Kentucky state senator. What would you have him do?
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