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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (Andrew A. Nelles, AP)

This post has been updated:

Rand Paul announced Tuesday hes running for office in 2016, but its not the one presidential watchers were expecting.

The Republican said in a news release that hesseeking re-election to the Senate from Kentucky. Paul will decide sometime this spring whether hell also run for the White House, according to Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to the senator.

Paul, who is at the top of some early polls for the GOP presidential nomination, has said previously he will not be deterred by a Kentucky law that prohibits candidates from appearing more than once on the ballot.

Republicans in Kentuckys Legislature tried unsuccessfully in the past session to change the law so candidates can run simultaneously for two federal offices as states such as Texas already do. The measure passed the GOP-controlled state Senate but did not go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled state House.

Stafford told reporters during a conference call there are many options available to Paul if he decides to run for president, including a court challenge. In an interview with Salon in November, Paul suggested a state nominating convention would mean he would not be on the ballot twice.

The senator also toldSalonthere should be an equal playing field across the states when it comes to running for president. TheConstitution set the requirements for eligibility for office that states cant modify for federal office; they can modify for state office, but I think thats actually a case that could be won, but its also just a fairness issue, he said.

In Pauls Senate re-election news release, GOP leaderMitch McConnell and all Republicans in Kentuckys congressional delegation endorsed their colleagues bid for a second term. McConnell, who is set to become majority leader in January, called Paul an irreplaceable partner and hailed him for his innovative mind for conservative reforms that create jobs and get the economy working again.

Paul also discussed his legislative record in Kentucky on issues such as industrial hemp as well as national ones like economic freedom zones. I ran for office because,like many Kentuckians, I was alarmed at the problems facing our country, he said, citing the economy, a disastrous health care plan and a misguided foreign policy. Paul said he wants to continue together in the task of repairing and revitalizing our great nation.

Continued here:
Rand Paul running for Senate and maybe president in 2016 ...

By Sara Fischer, CNN

updated 7:38 PM EST, Thu December 4, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Washington (CNN) -- Republican Sen. Rand Paul could face a brutal battle against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, in the 2016 battle for the presidency. But on Thursday, the Kentucky senator extended his potential rival an olive branch.

"We would welcome Hillary Clinton (to help reform the criminal justice system), if she would like to come and help us promote this agenda," Paul told Wolf Blitzer on CNN's "The Situation Room." "I've been working with Sen. Cory Booker and other Democrats. If she wants to join me, we would welcome her support."

Earlier this year, Paul joined forces with Attorney General Eric Holder, to re-examine the way law enforcement sentences people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

In light of the recent verdict not to indict a white police officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, Paul said he is "shocked" that no statement has been delivered from the Staten Island police about whether the bystanding officers involved in the incident will continue to serve.

"I really think to calm down the reaction to this, one thing that could happen is for the police could say, 'This is unacceptable for a policeman and we can't have this type of an individual on the police force,'" Paul said.

Asked about comments he made Wednesday where he blamed the politician who created New York's high cigarette tax for Garner's death, Paul said the black market created by heavy taxation and regulation -- whether it be food, drugs or cigarettes -- forces police officers to arrest people for mostly menial, non-offensive crimes. Garner was arrested for selling tax-free cigarettes.

"There's a black market because we have made the price of cigarettes so onerous that people are going to sell it illegally," Paul said. "I don't think it's justified what the police did but I also think it's bad policy that puts the police in an untenable position. ...So I think politicians are responsible for creating a situation and putting police in an untenable situation."

Original post:
Rand Paul would team up with Hillary Clinton

By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 2:11 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2014

Paul wants an ISIS vote. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul scored a victory Thursday in forcing an end-of-session debate on authorizing force against Islamic State militants.

The Kentucky Republican, and potential 2016 presidential candidate, used a legislative gambit to press the issue which the Obama administration has been reluctant to specifically engage with Congress on. Paul first tried to attach a Declaration of War against the terror group also known as ISIS or ISIL to an unrelated water bill at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Paul agreed to refrain from offering his amendment after the panel scheduled a Monday hearing on the issue, where Secretary of State John Kerry may testify. The hearing will be followed by a classified briefing, with a markup and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Forceon Wednesday.

I think the most important responsibility of a legislator is to vote yay or nay on whether or not we are sending our young men and women to war and I think we have been derelict in that duty. The president, I think in his arrogance has assumed he doesnt even need to ask, Paul said when leaving the markup meeting. Today we forced the issue and next week weve been promised a hearing on this as well as a vote on this and I am satisfied with that.

There was scant public notice of Pauls intentions, and the venue for the ordinarily routine business meeting (the committees ornate room on the first floor of the Capitol) wasnt particularly hospitable to reporters. But the effect of Pauls actions were clear, even if his amendment is unlikely to have enough support to advance.

Outgoing Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who also has been pushing for a new AUMF, was expected to offer his own authorization as a substitute to the Paul war declaration amendment. But with Paul standing down, Menendez too held back.

Paul had the procedural backing of panel member Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has long advocated for adopting a new use-of-force resolution. Kaine said was eager to have the debate, but added that he does not agree with Paul about formally declaring war against a non-state actor such as ISIS.

I talked to Sen. Paul last week about his intention to file his amendment. I said Go for it, that would be great. We need to be banging the drum about making this happen. We have looked at every venue to try to force a hearing on this, to force the administration to come up and justify their position and do an AUMF, the Virginia Democrat told CQ Roll Call. Weve looked at the [defense authorization]. Weve looked at the likely omnibus that will come next week.

Read more from the original source:
Paul Gambit Poised to Force Vote on ISIS (Video)

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican. (Associated Press) ** FILE ** more >

Sen. Rand Paul, as promised, has formally introduced a resolution to declare war against the Islamic State terrorist group and said Wednesday Congress has to be heard on an issue where President Obama has shifted.

The Kentucky Republican said the constitution which says congressional authority is required to go to war must be followed.

He also pointed out that when Mr. Obama made his first bid at the White House, he said no president should unilaterally go to war.

SEE ALSO: Rand Paul: Eric Garner died due to politicians and bad laws

And this is very disappointing, I think even for some of his supporters, that he seems to abandon what excited people about him, Mr. Paul said on MSNBCs Hardball.

Mr. Paul also argued that every time a secular dictator is toppled in the Middle East, radical Islam has risen, ranging from what he called Republican wars like Iraq and Hillarys war in Libya a reference to former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who, like Mr. Paul, is pondering her own run at the White House in 2016.

Mr. Pauls resolution would roll back a 2002 authorization of force for Iraq and sunset after one year a 2001 authorization passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The authorization itself would also expire one year after the date of its enactment, and the use of ground combat forces would be limited to protecting or rescuing U.S. troops in imminent danger, limited operations against high value targets, and as necessary for advisory and intelligence gathering.

See more here:
Rand Paul: On war, Obama 'seems to abandon what excited people about him'

By Humberto Sanchez and Niels Lesniewski Posted at 2:11 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2014

Paul wants an ISIS vote. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul scored a victory Thursday in forcing an end-of-session debate on authorizing force against Islamic State militants.

The Kentucky Republican, and potential 2016 presidential candidate, used a legislative gambit to press the issue which the Obama administration has been reluctant to specifically engage with Congress on. Paul first tried to attach a Declaration of War against the terror group also known as ISIS or ISIL to an unrelated water bill at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Paul agreed to refrain from offering his amendment after the panel scheduled a Monday hearing on the issue, where Secretary of State John Kerry may testify. The hearing will be followed by a classified briefing, with a markup and vote on an Authorization for the Use of Military Forceon Wednesday.

I think the most important responsibility of a legislator is to vote yay or nay on whether or not we are sending our young men and women to war and I think we have been derelict in that duty. The president, I think in his arrogance has assumed he doesnt even need to ask, Paul said when leaving the markup meeting. Today we forced the issue and next week weve been promised a hearing on this as well as a vote on this and I am satisfied with that.

There was scant public notice of Pauls intentions, and the venue for the ordinarily routine business meeting (the committees ornate room on the first floor of the Capitol) wasnt particularly hospitable to reporters. But the effect of Pauls actions were clear, even if his amendment is unlikely to have enough support to advance.

Outgoing Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who also has been pushing for a new AUMF, was expected to offer his own authorization as a substitute to the Paul war declaration amendment. But with Paul standing down, Menendez too held back.

Paul had the procedural backing of panel member Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who has long advocated for adopting a new use-of-force resolution. Kaine said was eager to have the debate, but added that he does not agree with Paul about formally declaring war against a non-state actor such as ISIS.

I talked to Sen. Paul last week about his intention to file his amendment. I said Go for it, that would be great. We need to be banging the drum about making this happen. We have looked at every venue to try to force a hearing on this, to force the administration to come up and justify their position and do an AUMF, the Virginia Democrat told CQ Roll Call. Weve looked at the [defense authorization]. Weve looked at the likely omnibus that will come next week.

Originally posted here:
Paul Gambit Poised to Force Vote on ISIS