Can Sen. Rand Paul really become the 45th president? <\/p>\n
His curly hair and slight frame arent a Hollywood casting agents idea of a commander in chief. But the freshman Republican senator from Kentucky rejects established norms; hes on a declared mission to redefine the presidency and his own party. <\/p>\n
Many other Republicans are nervous about Pauls rising stock, much more than they were about the presidential bids of his father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). <\/p>\n
A CNN\/ORC International poll last month showed Paul leading a field of Republican presidential contenders among Republicans and independents who favor the GOP nationwide. He garnered 16 percent support among those groups, compared to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who garnered 15 percent and 11 percent, respectively. <\/p>\n
Paul won the presidential survey at the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference in New Hampshire and the straw poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. <\/p>\n
Even so, there are some in GOP circles who say they dont take Paul seriously. <\/p>\n
Conservative commentator Ann Coulter said Paul, whos about 5 feet 8 inches tall, cant be president because hes as tall as my iPod. <\/p>\n
Generally, the taller candidate wins, said Robert Denton Jr., an expert in political communication at Virginia Tech. <\/p>\n
But Denton added that voters criteria have evolved over the years and now a candidates ability to project empathy is as important as radiating authority and competence. <\/p>\n
He actually does have kind of an everyday-person appearance about him, he said. <\/p>\n
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\nIs Paul plausible in 2016?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"