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The dreams of a White House run for at least two potential Republican hopefuls could come to a screeching halt if they can't surmount state laws prohibiting them from running for two offices at once.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence are mulling runs for president -- but both are up for re-election, too, and live in states which would force them to choose one race over the other.

Norman Ornstein, political analyst for the American Enterprise Institute, said the conundrum "isn't new." But this cycle is different, he said, in that it involves "two very high-profile" candidates who could be "serious, possible nominees" -- if they aren't thwarted by state election laws first.

At this stage, Paul has far more presidential buzz surrounding him than Pence, but both have allies in the state legislature looking to help them run for two offices.

Pence hasn't commented about the matter, but a Republican-sponsored bill in his state is awaiting action in the upcoming General Assembly session which would allow his name to appear twice -- as a gubernatorial candidate and presidential candidate, if he chooses to run. If the bill passes, he would have the liberty of signing it.

It wouldn't be the first time Indiana decided to give its politicians such a break: former Republican Sen. Richard Lugar got an exception to run for president and former Democratic Rep. Lee Hamilton was given one, too, when he was considered a potential vice presidential candidate -- though both men's prospects never went very far.

Meanwhile, a bill introduced in the Kentucky state Legislature by Republican state Sen. Damon Thayer last year would have changed the law to allow Paul to run for both offices, but it was eventually killed by majority Democrats in the House. Prospects for another go at a legislative remedy appear dim as Democrats held on to that majority in the last election.

For Kentucky Republicans, the issue of what happens to Paul if he chooses to run for president is looming large, especially since he is considered one of the national party's top potential candidates. Paul already has announced his re-election campaign for Senate.

"There is no question that the Democratic-controlled House will not take it up," Kentucky GOP Chairman Steve Robertson said. He said it may come down to Paul litigating his way onto the ballot for both Senate and White House. Political analysts say the Paul team would likely challenge the law on constitutional grounds, charging that federal rules only should govern federal elections.

Paul's office did not return a request for comment from FoxNews.com.

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'LBJ rule' revisited? GOP hopefuls looking to run for both White House, re-election - VIDEO: Debate over strongest ...

WASHINGTON 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 GOPs 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.

Everythings being prepared as if its happening, with the knowledge that the final trigger hasnt 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 GOPs 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 fathers legacy. About contradictions between his past comments and todays 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 dont 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 Rand Paul as he sprints toward 2016

By STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - 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.

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Challenges loom for Paul as he speeds toward 2016 - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

Rand Paul OWNS A CLUELESS John McCain On The Debt Ceiling
John McCain is completely clueless on the Debt Ceiling.

By: The Establishment Sucks

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Rand Paul OWNS A CLUELESS John McCain On The Debt Ceiling - Video

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., performed well in The Federalist Today Presidential Straw Poll released this week on The Federalist website, but not as well as he has done in other straw polls.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, won the straw poll with 26 percent of the vote, followed by Paul with 22 percent and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker with 16 percent, The Federalist said in a post.

But it is unclear if Pauls performance in this and other polls has any real significance when it comes to the real-life race for president, which he still has not yet officially entered.

Paul is no stranger to success in presidential straw polls. He won straw polls at theConservative Political Action Conference in 2013 and 2014, according to The Washington Post.

In the 2014 poll, the Bowling Green Republican bested his 2013 performance by winning 31 percent of the vote compared to 25 percent in 2013.In the 2014 CPAC poll, Cruz came in second place with 11 percent of the vote.

But the poll has not always been a great predictor of election success. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney did win in 2012, but Pauls father and former Texas representative Ron Paul won in 2010 and 2011, according to The Washington Post.

The Federalist favors a conservative-libertarian candidate rising to the top in the coming Republican presidential nomination process but acknowledges challenges to that idea.

Any such insurgents campaign will be undone by a press that favors Democrats, a bare-knuckles Republican establishment that favors milque-toast candidates, and a bewildered flyover electorate conditioned to favor one flavor-of-the-month insurgent presidential candidate after another, to the detriment of any effective insurgent candidacy, the blog post said.

Some media outlets suggest that foreign relations may be a weak spot for Paul if he seeks his partys presidential nomination.

In its New Years resolutions and suggestions for potential Republican presidential candidates, The Hill suggests that Paul resolve to convince Republicans you can be trusted on foreign policy.

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Paul performs well in presidential poll