The race to the White House is accelerating as more Republican hopefuls move to launch their campaigns in April.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is expected to officially announce a campaign Tuesday, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio is expected to announce plans to pursue the GOP nomination later this month, joining Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who took an early start in his attempt to get ahead of the pack.
Paul posted a video Sunday, revealing his plans to make an official announcement in Louisville, Kentucky, declaring that he is “a different kind of Republican.”
Given his unwavering libertarian standpoint, Paul’s failure to align with the Republican base on issues of foreign policy around Iran and combating ISIS may prove troubling for him long term. “He has seen the world shift around him in a way that is not particularly helpful,” msnbc’s Kasie Hunt said on Monday’s Rundown.
Still, an early Wall Street Journal Poll found some hope for Paul: 49% of Republicans polled said they could support Paul as the nominee, with 40% saying they could not support him in the primary. Analysts say that Paul’s unique stance could also provide him some backing among the less likely Republican targets. “Rand Paul does have some strength with independents,” NBC’s Mark Murray told José Díaz-Balart on Monday. “He does well or better with younger voters than other Republicans do.” After his Tuesday announcement, Paul is set to kick off a five-state tour through key states, starting with New Hampshire.
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