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Sen. Rand Paul has been looking for a way to run for president and for re-election to the Senate at the same time in 2016, and his complex strategy got a boost Tuesday when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) shelved his qualms and agreed to support his colleagues proposal to get around state law to run for both offices.

In a shift first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader, a McConnell aide said the senator had decided to support Mr. Pauls proposal that the Kentucky GOP establish a presidential selection caucus in March separate from the states May primary for other offices. That would allow him to be in both contests without violating a state law that prohibits candidates from appearing twice on one ballot.

Mr. Paul has asked the Kentucky GOP to consider the proposal when its central committee meets March 7 about a month before the senator is expected to announce his presidential candidacy. He is also up for re-election to the Senate in 2016 and has said he wants to run for both offices a pragmatic nod to the fact that he is still considered a long shot for the White House.

In asking the party to allow him to run for both offices, Mr. Paul cites laws in other states such as Wisconsin, which allowed Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) in 2012 to run both for re-election to the House as he also ran as his partys vice presidential nominee.

Mr. McConnell, whose top political priority is retaining GOP control of the Senate in 2016, had remained silent on the Paul proposal. Some Republicans have raised questions about whether holding a caucus would complicate other state races, cost too much money, or make it harder for the party to hold onto his Senate seat. If Mr. Paul were to win the partys nomination in summer of 2016, it would be too late for the GOP to put another Senate candidate on the November ballot.

After Mr. McConnell discussed the issue at length with Mr. Paul Monday, Mr. McConnells chief of staff Brian McGuireon Tuesday issued a statement saying Senator McConnells initial reaction to the caucus proposal could best be described as respectful skepticism, but after a lengthy discussion of the details with Senator Paul he has become convinced that switching from a primary to a caucus is worth his support.

Not only would it be helpful to the senators presidential campaign but, as a one-time event paid for with funds that hed raise, would do no damage to the state party or interfere with this years state races, Mr. McGuire said.

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Mitch McConnell Backs Rand Pauls Bid to Run for Both Senate, White House

Interview du snateur Rand Paul sur les vaccins.
Le Snateur Rand Paul du Kentucky a voulu faire savoir lundi que le dbat sur l #39;opportunit de permettre aux parents plus de choix en matire de vaccination ...

By: Francois Germain

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Interview du snateur Rand Paul sur les vaccins. - Video

Republican Sen. Rand Paul is standing by his statement that most vaccinations should be "voluntary," telling CNBC that a parent's choice not to vaccinate a child is "an issue of freedom."

In an interview with the network Monday, Paul said that vaccines are "a good thing" but that parents "should have some input" into whether or not their children must get them.

And he gave credence to the idea - disputed by the majority of the scientific community - that vaccination can lead to mental disabilities.

"I have heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines," he said.

Paul's comments came the same day that Gov. Chris Christie said that parents should have "a measure of choice" in whether children are vaccinated. The New Jersey governor, who -- like Paul -- is considering a 2016 run, later issued a statement clarifying that he believes that "there is no question" that children should be vaccinated for diseases like measles.

Earlier Monday, Paul said on Laura Ingraham's radio show that "most" vaccines should be voluntary.

First published February 2 2015, 2:05 PM

Read more from the original source:
Rand Paul: Vaccines Can Lead to 'Mental Disorders' - NBC News

Welp, heres a new entry in the canon of dumb online stunts for political gain: On Saturday, presidential hopeful/bona fide troll Rand Paul made a fake Pinterest page for Hillary Clinton. And shortly thereafter, Pinterest deleted the page because making a fake Pinterest for a female politician is not only sexist, unfunny and painfully lame, but also explicitly violates Pinterests Terms of Service.

Well played, Rand Paul well played.

The page, before Pinterest took it down, was presumably meant to burn Clinton, as my colleague Hunter Schwarz wrote Saturday. It included a Power Couple board with pictures of the Clintons. An Inspirational Quotes page, with text images of things Clinton has said. And, apropos of nothing, a White House Remodel page, complete with pictures of the furniture Clinton would buy to make the Oval Office more chic.

The page did not identify itself as a parody, nor did it explain who was actually behind it. In fact, when Paul himself initially tweeted the account, he made it sound as though it belonged to Clinton.

That violates Pinterests Acceptable Use policy, which does not allow users to impersonate or misrepresent [their] affiliation with any person or entity. A Pinterest spokesman confirmed to The Post that they had deleted the account on those grounds, which for the record are de rigueur on pretty much any major social network, including Facebook and Twitter.

But its impossible not to read into Pauls choice of Pinterest for this particular stunt, particularly given that his past gags have gone down on Twitteronly. Pinterests user base is overwhelmingly female in fact, with default boards like For the Home and My Style, Pinterest is pretty explicitly branded that way.

On top of that, while most of the boards on the Clinton parody account targeted Clintons record which is certainly fair game the White House Remodel board has no apparent connection to Clinton, as a person or a politician. In fact, its unclear what aspects of her record Paul is parodying there beside the fact that (heyo!) Clinton is a lady. It even came complete with stereotypical photo captions, falsely attributed to Clinton and crimped straight from suburban-mom speak: LOVE this, lol, hearts, smileys.

Using stereotypes of women to mock a woman? How terribly novel and witty.

We can only hope Pinterests takedown serves as a warning to other politicians who hope to meme their way through the 2016 campaign: You guys dont get the Internet and youre not funny. Please please abstain.

Liked that? Try these:

Original post:
Pinterest deleted Rand Pauls sexist and unfunny Hillary ...

By Stuart Rothenberg Posted at 2:47 p.m. on Feb. 23

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

While the economy is a decisive topic in many presidential elections, national security looks increasingly likely to become a top issue in next years contest. And if that happens, it could dramatically affect both the direction of the race for the Republican nomination and the partys prospects in November.

While the economys slow recovery hasnt yet produced solid wage growth or the sort of good, full-time jobs that many had hoped for, President Barack Obamas job approval numbers on handling the economy have started to climb.

Americans are increasingly upbeat about the economy, and Democrats have good reason to believe economic angst wont be the albatross for them that it was during the past three elections. Thats certainly good news for the eventual Democratic ticket.

But politicians and political strategists planning on making the 2016 election about economic themes and issues may well be preparing to fight the last war.

The success of the Islamic State terror group (also known asISIL or ISIS), along with beheadings, threats aimed at the West and terrorist attacks in Europe, have damaged the president. Polls show the Islamic State is seen as a threat to the United States, and the president is getting low marks for handling that threat.

Not surprisingly, the news coverage of the Islamic State and terrorism has started to elevate national security issues, particularly for Republicans.

That development, and the likelihood that international crises whether in the Middle East or involving Vladimir Putins Russia will continue to fester creates challenges for Sen. Rand Paul.

The Kentucky Republican, who apparently is waiting until early April to announce his bid for the GOP nomination, remains an intriguing figure, if only because he isnt always in step with his own party and understands the GOP must broaden its appeal.

Link:
Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton Face Foreign Policy Challenges in 2016