Sen. Rand Paul looks likely to be able to run for Senate and President next year.

Politico: “The Kentucky GOP’s central committee voted Saturday to adopt a presidential caucus system next year, clearing the way Republican Sen. Rand Paul to run for president and reelection at the same time.” It’s costing Senator Rand Paul $500K to do this – he’s agreed to cover the costs of the Kentucky GOP running a caucus instead of a primary – but apparently the first-term Senator thinks that it’s worth it. Certainly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does, too.

This, by the way, is supposed to be a one-time affair; the Kentucky GOP will revert back to a primary in 2020, unless of course another Kentucky Republican is simultaneously running for President and a state/federal office that year. As to the merits of doing this this way… well, I’m not from Kentucky. I have no strong emotional connection to either the original law, or the way that this new tactic is being used to legally circumvent it.  I do admit to enjoying the sight of Secretary of State Alison Grimes visibly grind her teeth at the way that her last long-shot chance at getting a Senate seat has just evaporated, but that’s just me being a partisan Republican hack.

I also decline to speculate what this means for Sen. Paul’s long-term Presidential chances, although Politico certainly wasn’t shy about doing so. Truthfully, it’s more than a little early to declare that anybody is or is not in this race for the long haul. It’s still more than fourteen months to the election, and more than six to the first primaries. Trying to rush the process will produce nothing except self-annoyance…

Moe Lane (crosspost)

8 thoughts on “Sen. Rand Paul looks likely to be able to run for Senate and President next year.”

    1. Or what Massachusetts Democrats did with the Senate seat Ted Kennedy had when Romney was governor and when he wasn’t.

      1. …or the New Jersey Dems getting Toricelli out of suspended animation every time their candidate gets caught and they need a substitute…
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        Mew

  2. I think the principle is horrible, no mater what party he’s with. In order to keep from leaving the taxpayer on the hook for his ambition, he’s just bankrolling his own election process?

    Please tell me how that’s right in any reality.

    1. Iowa would like a word.
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      Seriously, this is not disenfranchising anyone – it’s playing games with the selection method, anyone who wants a voice in the process has to caucus, not just cast a ballot.
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      I find it objectionable, but not on those grounds.
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      Mew

      1. That’s what I mean, changing the rules for one man’s power grab. This is something the Dems or Putin do, not a man preaching “libety.” He deserves to crash in the polls.

        1. There are no saints in politics.
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          Thinking otherwise is .. pretty much setting yourself up for disappointment.
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          I’m also not clear why you think this changes the rules – it doesn’t, it changes the *selection process* – clearly both a primary election and a caucus are *in* the rules.. it’s just that the KY GOP have historically (and probably because it’s cheaper to organize…) gone with the election method.
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          Mew

  3. … am I the only one wondering what Mitch’s** rake-off on this is?
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    Mew
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    ** what, you think ol’ turtle-face did this gratis?

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