Super PACs backing Rand Paul’s presidential campaign are divided on whether to continue supporting his candidacy. Purple PAC announced it would cease raising money for the senator on Tuesday and its president, Ed Crane, called Paul’s efforts a “futile crusade.”
A competing super PAC, Concerned American Voters, moved swiftly to show its continued support for Paul.
“We are still 100 percent committed to electing Rand Paul,” said Matt Kibbe, Concerned American Voters senior adviser, in an email. “Our donors were generally energized by Rand’s performance in the last debate and they really want to see that libertarian voice on issues like criminal justice reform and a smarter, Reagan-like approach to foreign policy. We continue to raise money for our efforts.”
Kibbe said his group expected “wild swings” after the first few presidential debates, but that Paul voters would not be deterred by the “flavor of the week.” Paul’s decision to fundraise for his Senate re-election campaign in Washington, D.C., this week has caused increased speculation about the viability of his presidential campaign. Kibbe said he did not think there was any significance to the fundraisers and said, “I would be more concerned if he wasn’t out there raising all available funds.”
However, Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner who remains on top in the Washington Examiner‘s 2016 GOP presidential power rankings, predicted Paul would drop out and said he would “do a much better job” for the senator’s supporters.
“I think Donald Trump is the very last place on earth that Rand Paul supporters would consider,” Kibbe told the Examiner.
But if other Paul donors and supporters follow Crane’s path, then libertarian Republicans could soon be left without one of its top choices.
