Monthly Archives: April 2014

BOSTON Fighting to move beyond his father's shadow, Sen. Rand Paul is crafting new alliances with the Republican Party establishment during a Northeast tour that began Friday in Boston.

The 51-year-old Kentucky Republican, son of libertarian hero and former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, headlined an afternoon luncheon hosted by top lieutenants of former presidential nominee Mitt Romney a private meeting that comes as Paul weighs a 2016 presidential bid of his own. To succeed in a national campaign, however, those close to Paul acknowledge that he must broaden his appeal beyond the tea party and libertarian-minded activists who rallied behind his father's long-shot presidential runs.

Paul offered a unique blend of what he called "libertarian-ish" politics while addressing Harvard University's Institute of Politics Friday afternoon.

"The Republican Party will adapt, evolve or die," Paul declared.

He railed against perceived civil liberties abuses in the Obama administration, while suggesting his party should focus less attention on social issues. He also said the GOP should abandon calls to deport millions of immigrants and offered that armed school officials might help prevent further mass shootings.

But more than what he said publicly, Paul's private actions on Friday marked a new step in his push to strengthen his political standing.

The freshman senator attended the luncheon at the private-equity firm Solamere Capital, a Boston-area company led by Romney's his former national finance chairman, Spencer Zwick, and Romney's oldest son, Tagg. Romney himself serves as a senior adviser to the firm and has an office there, although he did not attend the gathering.

Zwick arranged a private audience of just a dozen key members of Romney's inner circle, including senior advisers Beth Myers, Bob White and Ron Kaufman.

"This was meant to be a real discussion with people that I view can be very helpful," Zwick told The Associated Press, adding that Paul "was very well received" during an hour-and-a-half discussion about policy and politics over salad and fresh fruit.

"He always leaves people feeling more positive about him than they did going in," Kaufman said of Paul after the meeting.

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Rand Paul seeks new allies among Romney team

Yesterday at 9:13 PM The Kentucky senator has yet to announce his intentions for the 2016 presidential race, but says he's seriously considering a run.

By Steve Peoples The Associated Press

BOSTON Fighting to move beyond his fathers shadow, Sen. Rand Paul is crafting new alliances with the Republican Party establishment during a Northeast tour that began Friday in Boston.

click image to enlarge

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is scheduled to address the Maine Republican Party convention Saturday.

The Associated Press

The 51-year-old Kentucky Republican, son of libertarian hero and former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, headlined an afternoon luncheon hosted by top lieutenants of former presidential nominee Mitt Romney a private meeting that comes as Paul weighs a 2016 presidential bid of his own. To succeed in a national campaign, however, those close to Paul acknowledge that he must broaden his appeal beyond the tea party and libertarian-minded activists who rallied behind his fathers long-shot presidential runs.

Rons retired. Rons political career was obviously a help to Rand, but hes finished, said Doug Stafford, Rand Pauls former chief of staff who now leads his political action committee. This is about Rand.

The freshman senator attended the luncheon at the private-equity firm Solamere Capital, a Boston-area company led by Romney, his former national finance chairman Spencer Zwick and Romneys oldest son, Tagg. Later in the afternoon, Paul speaks to Harvard Universitys Institute of Politics, where one of Romneys most trusted aides serves as a fellow. He finishes his Boston swing by addressing a national conference of ophthalmologists, where he plans to draw from his personal experience as an eye doctor in an effort to broaden his image.

Paul has yet to announce his intentions for the 2016 presidential contest but says hes seriously considering a run.

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Rand Paul seeks out allies from Romneys 2012 team

BANGOR, Maine (AP) Sen. Rand Paul faces a divided Republican Party as he arrives in Maine.

The Kentucky Republican is set to address the state Republican convention on Saturday, an annual event for GOP officials troubled by infighting since libertarian-minded activists loyal to Paul's father seized control of the state party. This year's theme is "unity," an optimistic note from party officials in Maine and Washington who suggest that things have improved in recent months.

But Paul's White House ambitions and Maine's Republican Gov. Paul LePage's re-election prospects may depend on whether the freshman U.S. senator can help mend divisions between his party's establishment and tea party wings as he eyes a presidential run in 2016.

No state showcases Paul's challenge more than Maine.

He hopes to promote further party unity ahead of the November re-election test for LePage, considered one of most endangered Republican governors in the nation. At the same time, Paul is pushing to strengthen his appeal beyond his father's passionate supporters to prove he can be a credible national candidate. He has yet to announce his 2016 intentions, but says he is seriously considering a run for president.

"The Republican Party will adapt, evolve or die," Paul declared in a speech at Harvard University's Institute of Politics on Friday as he worked to build new alliances with mainstream Republicans in Boston.

Before the speech, the freshman senator attended a private luncheon hosted by top lieutenants of former presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Romney's former national finance chairman Spencer Zwick arranged a private audience of just a dozen key members of Romney's inner circle.

"This was meant to be a real discussion with people that I view can be very helpful," Zwick told The Associated Press, adding that Paul "was very well received" during an hour-and-a-half discussion about policy and politics over salad and fresh fruit.

Paul's Maine audience will be larger and more rowdy.

After two tumultuous conventions that revealed cracks in the Maine GOP, party leaders are trying to build a strong, unified base that will shepherd in four more years for LePage, who rode tea party support to victory in 2010.

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Rand Paul confronts GOP divide in Maine