Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul has become the top Republican “get” of the 2014 midterm elections, appearing in over two dozen states this year alone to endorse House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates and helping to raise millions for GOP campaigns.
The likely 2016 presidential candidate has visited over half of the nation, some 32 states, to promote candidates and his “pro-liberty, pro-Constitution” message, making him one of the most-traveled political surrogates.
Just this week, for example, his political action committee, RandPAC announced nine more trips over 21 days to key battleground states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and Kansas.
And next week, he will travel to Richmond, Va., to rally support for Republican senatorial candidate Ed Gillespie and Dave Brat, the conservative who knocked off former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a primary.
“From day one of this election cycle, Senator Paul has been tireless in his efforts to not only help Republicans win back a Senate majority but to also help grow the Republican Party broadly. His work on behalf of Republican candidates across the country hasn’t gone unnoticed, nor should it,” said Brian Walsh, a former top aide with the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
For Paul, helping Senate candidates gives him a chance to help remake the U.S. Senate and put it in GOP hands — all while making key political allies who might help him out in 2016.
“Senator Paul is eager to support candidates from coast to coast. October is a final push for our party to win control of the Senate,” said RandPAC communications director Sergio Gor.
“With upcoming trips to Kansas, New Hampshire, Virginia, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Michigan, Senator Paul is doing his part to make the Republican party bigger, bolder and better,” added Gor.
It’s also proof of his popularity around the nation and gives him a chance to set the stage for his 2016 presidential bid, already in action as evidenced in his recent speeches on foreign policy and economics and his outreach to minorities.
Others, like Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, are also on the campaign trail for Republicans, but not making the sheer number of trips Paul is and has. Cruz, for example, just announced plans for three stops in South Carolina this weekend.
Ron Bonjean, a top GOP communicator, said Paul is also being wooed by candidates eager to win over his libertarian-leaning backers.
“Campaigns in battleground states want Sen. Paul because many of these races have libertarian candidates that could take a few percentage points away from Republicans. Most Republican candidates really appreciate Sen. Paul appealing to libertarian voters to support them in these close races because every vote counts in toss up states,” said Bonjean.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
