Rand Paul is actively looking for ways to run for both president and re-election to the U.S. Senate, something standard in many states, but not legal in his home state of Kentucky. However, the state GOP has some serious concerns about his desired scenario.
Paul wrote a letter last week to the state party hoping to convince its members to create a presidential caucus, over a primary in 2016, the Lexington Herald-Leader first reported and the Kentucky GOP state party chairman confirmed to ABC News. Pauls letter argued it would make Kentucky more relevant in the primary process, but it also deals with the prohibition on candidates appearing on the same ballot twice.
Paul and his supporters have been strategizing a work-around since he announced his intention to seek re-election and is also considering a 2016 run for the White House. Another potential 2016 candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio has said he will not run for both.
In the letter, he cites Rep. Paul Ryan, who lost the vice-presidency in 2012, but was re-elected to his House seat. There are other examples of victories and losses in states where its legal including then-Senator Joe Biden in 2008, amongst others, something Paul notes in the letter writing "My request to you is simply to be treated equally compared to other potential candidates for the presidency.
Steve Robertson, the Kentucky State GOP chairman and executive chairman told ABC News its an option Paul wants the party to explore, but he said his members have a lot of questions about a caucus and the process.
Most pressing, Robertson said, is their concern that its unclear what would happen if they move to a caucus and Paul were to become the GOP presidential nominee. Under state law, there is no way to substitute a candidate on the ballot after the filing deadline. After a hard-fought 2014 battle to keep Sen. Mitch McConnell in office, Robertson said their biggest concern is losing that seat in the general election because they couldnt field another Republican and state law would still prevent Pauls name from appearing on the ballot twice.
Robertson called this question a major league struggle for members of the committee, and something they are very conflicted about, but they also have questions about a caucus since theyve never had one in the state before and whether a caucus could potentially disenfranchise Republican voters from the process. And, he says, its a question of both cost and convenience.
How long does someone theoretically have to drive [to caucus]how is this going to be a process that is open and convenient and accessible to Republicans, including older Republicans? Robertson asked, adding they also wonder how it affects absentee voting for service members overseas and they are worried it could have a depressing effect on the number of people who could be able to take part in the process.
We are very supportive of Sen. Paul, Robertson said. This is a very big decision with a lot of ramifications.
Robertson said the 54 members of the executive committee will get a chance to meet with Paul on March 7 and he looks forward to hearing Paul make his case then and to better understand it. He said it wont be the last conversation on the topic. There are other possibilities Paul has to get around the issue. Last year, the Kentucky Senate passed a bill that would allow Paul to be on the ballot twice, but it went nowhere in the Democratic-led House.
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Rand Paul Trying to Run for Both President and Senate