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There is more at stake today than who controls the Senate. Theres also the question of who controls the argument heading into 2016.

Ted Cruz wants to push the Republican brand to the right. Rand Paul wants to completely revamp the brand.

The contrast between these two freshmen senators, both of whom can envision themselves in the Oval Office, is a microcosm of a simmering debate within the GOP. And how its resolved will also affect the partys strategy for the last two years of Barack Obamas term.

Lets start with Rand Paul.While other Republicans have been talking up the party's prospects on the eve of what look like a successful midterm election, the Kentucky senator has a very different message.

"Our brand is broken," he said on "Face the Nation." "I dont think what we stand for is bad. We have a wall, or a barrier, between us and African-American voters."

A couple of days earlier, Paul referred to the GOP with a word you once couldn't use in polite company:

Remember Dominos Pizza? They admitted, Hey, our pizza crust sucks. The Republican Party brand sucks and so people dont want to be a Republican and for 80 years, African-Americans have had nothing to do with Republicans.

Why? Because of a perception. The problem is the perception is that no one in the Republican Party cares.

So Paul wants to throw out the pizza recipe and bake a new pie. Thats not what you expect someones party is poised to take over the Senate.

And he isnt afraid to throw a few punches. In the CBS interview, Paul took a whack at potential rival Chris Christie for yelling at a heckler:

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Collision Course: How Rand Paul and Ted Cruz would remake the Republicans

On a seven-city fly-around of Kentucky with fellow Sen. Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell on Monday looked beyond what has been one of the nation's most bitter and expensive races to a future that could include prominent roles for both men for him, perhaps as the next Senate majority leader, and for Paul, a possible run for the White House.

"I don't believe our state has ever had two senators in a better position to influence the course of events in our country than we have right now," McConnell told supporters at an event at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. "We're counting on you not to give that up."

Tuesday's midterm election has special significance for McConnell, who is seeking not only a sixth term but a long-prized role as leader of a new Republican majority in the Senate. His deep unpopularity in the state had given Democrats an unusual pickup opportunity, particularly given a strong, disciplined campaign by Alison Lundergan Grimes, currently secretary of state.

But the McConnell campaign's efforts to tie Grimes to President Obama have seemed to win out as polls show the Republican opening up a more comfortable, albeit still single-digit lead in the polls. McConnell acknowledged here that the 35-year-old Grimes was "a new face," but one "for the status quo."

"If you want to change America I'm your candidate tomorrow," McConnell said, calling the current Democratic Senate majority a "firewall" that keeps Obama from having to confront more conservative policies passed by the Republican-led House.

"Look, we need to get the Senate back to normal and we need to pass bills," he said. "We need to put them on his desk. We don't know whether he'll sign them or not, but by golly we're going to start functioning again."

McConnell and Paul have increasingly seemed to strike up a new alliance, years after McConnell backed a different Republican against Paul in a primary. McConnell on Monday praised Paul as the most interesting man in politics, as Time magazine recently called him.

"Nobody has done more to point out where the Republican Party ought to go into the future, to appeal to new people who do not typically identify with us," he said.

And Paul in turn offered strong support for McConnell, both in the election and as the party's Senate leader, saying he "will take charge from the beginning."

"Mitch McConnell has been a leader for limited government, for constitutional government, a champion of the 1st Amendment," Paul said. "And when it comes to unifying the Republicans in our opposition to Obamacare, there's been no better leader."

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Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul look ahead as Kentucky race closes

RINO Michael Steele says Rand Paul is the GOP frontrunner for 2016
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RINO Michael Steele says Rand Paul is the GOP frontrunner for 2016 - Video

Rand Paul: Dumb for Republicans to Focus on Voter ID Laws
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said today on "Meet the Press" that it #39;s a "dumb idea" for the GOP to focus too much on voter ID laws.

By: TheFoundryBlog

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Rand Paul: Dumb for Republicans to Focus on Voter ID Laws - Video

Rand Paul Attack Ad
Attack ad on Rand Perry for AP NSL.

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Rand Paul Attack Ad - Video