By Tim Baldwin
The GOP needs Rand Paul in 2016. Looking at the polling data, the leading Republican presidential candidates do not have a notable lead over Hillary; and supposedly, Paul “can’t win the nomination.” But there is something Paul can do that no other Republican candidate can do: attract a large number of libertarians and independents.
Like his dad, Rand attracts vigorous support from Americans no other Republican candidate can. As Republicans have historically seen – on local, state and federal levels – it is the independent and libertarian vote that largely determines election outcomes. Most voters pick their team and vote by party. That is not the case with libertarians and independents. They tend to vote for the person, not the party. Getting their vote is critical for the GOP to win in 2016.
Journalists and political commentators have astutely described Paul as the most under-appreciated but most-influential leader in the U.S. Senate. Paul has done considerable work in arenas that other Republicans, including Rubio and Cruz, have not: like auditing the Federal Reserve, challenging NSA spying, appealing to minorities, pushing criminal justice reform, advocating foreign diplomacy, and flattening taxes. As for federal politics, he is as libertarian as they get.
Whoever the GOP nominee may be, he will wisely choose Rand Paul as his VP running mate.
By Joe Carbonari
Where will the “Rand Paulers” go? Some of his support is due to his policies, some to his personality. Rand Paul is intelligent, strong willed, polite, and non-confrontational. Those that are drawn to Paul in this way are unlikely to be comfortable with Donald Trump. Good, but Ted Cruz is worse. Look at him … really.
He looks, talks, and acts like a flim-flam man. He dumbs down his delivery and panders to the voter profile most serving. Those Rand Paul supporters that are drawn to his policies and intellect should trust their instincts and recoil at Cruz. Cruz is no place for the intellectually honest. Further, Cruz has a history of running somewhat rough-shod, recklessly impolite. With lives at stake, this is unsettling.
Marco Rubio holds some attraction. He generally talks straight and makes sense. He seems to know the issues and sees the bigger picture – the interrelationships that link the world economy, international diplomacy, and our health and welfare at home. This is good. In the areas of immigration and gun control he looks to be flexible and pragmatic. This also is good but suggests that his true beliefs may yet to have been plumbed.
In Montana, who will win their support? Interestingly, Sen. Rand Paul is from Kentucky, a coal state. Coal is hurting in Montana and contributing significantly less in tax, operational, and employment dollars. The same is true of oil. Stay clean or get dirty?