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Rand Paul may only yet be a candidate for re-election to the Senate in 2016, but the first-term Kentucky Republican already is sprinting toward the race for president.

The libertarian-minded lawmaker is set to visit several Western states this month before reintroducing himself to voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and his team is working to strengthen his political network in nearly every state.

At the same time, he is readying for a leading role in the GOP's new Senate majority while pushing to improve a Republican brand he says is "tattered."

Aides insist that Paul has not finalized his decision about the White House, but his aggressive steps leave little doubt about his ambitions.

"Everything's being prepared as if it's happening, with the knowledge that the final trigger hasn't been pulled yet," said Paul senior aide Doug Stafford.

Some see the son of former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a two-time presidential candidate, as a transformational figure capable of expanding the GOP's appeal beyond its traditional base of older, white men.

While calling for a dramatic reduction in the size and scope of the federal government, the 51-year-old Paul plays down social issues such as gay marriage, criticizes a criminal justice system that overwhelmingly incarcerates blacks, and favors a smaller U.S. footprint in the world.

Rand Paul should expect challenges every step of the way.

About his father's legacy. About contradictions between his past comments and today's words. About his willingness to take on the status quo. About a Kentucky law that says he cannot run for president and re-election to the Senate at the same time.

"I just don't see him getting too far with an isolationist foreign policy and a pro-gay marriage agenda," said Hogan Gidley, a GOP operative who previously worked for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who have run for president before and may again in 2016.

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Challenges Loom for Paul as He Speeds Toward 2016

Libertarian girl 2014 Year in Review
Libertarian girl 2014 Year in Review specific agenda, news agenda, watch news, news generics, news special, news summaries, news time, last minute news today, news turkey, last minute news,...

By: Tomas Simon

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Libertarian girl 2014 Year in Review - Video

Libertarian Dating Difficulties
Having strong political and philosophical beliefs effect one #39;s relationships, especially romantic ones. I wrote in more detail on the subject here http://christophercantwell.com/2015/01/01/libertar...

By: Christopher Cantwell

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Libertarian Dating Difficulties - Video

CONCORD A federal judge has ruled that the Libertarian Party can proceed with its challenge to a New Hampshire law it claims could prevent its candidates from getting on the ballot.

A third party can have its nominees placed on the New Hampshire general election ballot by winning at least 4 percent of the vote for either governor or U.S. senator in the most recent election or by collecting signatures equal to 3 percent of the total votes cast during the prior election. Under a law that took effect in July, parties cant begin gathering those signatures until Jan. 1 of the election year. ... Subscribe or log in to read more

CONCORD A federal judge has ruled that the Libertarian Party can proceed with its challenge to a New Hampshire law it claims could prevent its candidates from getting on the ballot.

A third party can have its nominees placed on the New Hampshire general election ballot by winning at least 4 percent of the vote for either governor or U.S. senator in the most recent election or by collecting signatures equal to 3 percent of the total votes cast during the prior election. Under a law that took effect in July, parties cant begin gathering those signatures until Jan. 1 of the election year.

The state argues that the change ensures that signatures on nomination papers are valid, but the Libertarian Party sued, arguing that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the party to petition its way onto the ballot.

The state asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, but U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro refused. In a ruling this week, he noted that the right to vote must be balanced against the states interest in conducting orderly elections, but said whether or not the new restrictions are reasonable depends on factors that have yet to be explored.

The state offers a number of arguments in favor of dismissal, but none are persuasive, he wrote.

In 2012, the Libertarian Party ran candidates for president, vice president, Congress and several state-level seats after collecting the necessary signatures, but it began the collection process in 2011. For the 2016 election, it would need to collect 14,864 signatures.

This signature-collection process is like a marathon thats hard enough just to finish, and now the state is essentially demanding that the Libertarian Party run the marathon in less than two hours. This is unfair and unconstitutional, said attorney William Christie, co-counsel on the case along with the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union.

Attorneys for the party argue that the time limit also effectively prevents the party from meaningfully participating in the general election because it would have to use its limited resources collecting signatures instead of on campaigning and fundraising.

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New Hampshire ballot access challenge continues

Concord A federal judge has ruled that the Libertarian Party can proceed with its challenge to a New Hampshire law it claims could prevent its candidates from getting on the ballot.

A third party can have its nominees placed on the New Hampshire general election ballot by winning at least 4 percent of the vote for either governor or U.S. senator in the most recent election or by collecting signatures equal to 3 percent of the total votes cast during the prior election. Under a law that took effect in July, parties cant begin gathering those signatures until Jan. 1 of the election year.

The state argues that the change ensures that signatures on nomination papers are valid, but the Libertarian Party sued, arguing that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the party to petition its way onto the ballot.

The state asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, but U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro refused. In a ruling this week, he noted that the right to vote must be balanced against the states interest in conducting orderly elections, but said whether or not the new restrictions are reasonable depends on factors that have yet to be explored.

The state offers a number of arguments in favor of dismissal, but none are persuasive, he wrote.

In 2012, the Libertarian Party ran candidates for president, vice president, Congress and several state-level seats after collecting the necessary signatures, but it began the collection process in 2011. For the 2016 election, it would need to collect 14,864 signatures.

This signature-collection process is like a marathon thats hard enough just to finish, and now the state is essentially demanding that the Libertarian Party run the marathon in less than two hours. This is unfair and unconstitutional, said attorney William Christie, co-counsel on the case along with the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union.

Attorneys for the party argue that the time limit also effectively prevents the party from meaningfully participating in the general election because it would have to use its limited resources collecting signatures instead of on campaigning and fundraising.

Assistant Attorney General Laura Lombardi, who is representing Secretary of State William Gardner, did not respond to a request for comment earlier this week. In court filings, she argued that the new time limits are both nondiscriminatory and reasonable and would impose only a minimal burden on third parties.

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Ballot Access Ruling Favors N.H. Third Party