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Sen. Rand Paul made his 2016 White House bid official on Tuesday, telling an audience in his adopted home state of Kentucky that he will be a different kind of Republican -- one who will "clutch the Constitution in one hand and the Bill of Rights in the other."

"Today I announce with God's help, with the help of liberty lovers everywhere, that I am putting myself forward as a candidate for the United States of America," Paul said to the cheers of an estimated 1,000 supporter packed into a ballroom at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.

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The audience greeted the Kentucky Republican with cheers of "President Paul, President Paul!" and many sported the same "Stand with Rand" shirts that made an awkward debut at Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential announcement last month.

Paul laid out a vision of limiting the federal government, cutting taxes, and ending the practice of government surveillance.

"The phone records of US citizens none of their dam business," Paul said. "As president, on day one, I will end this unconstitutional surveillance. I believe we can have liberty and security and I will not compromise your liberty for a false sense of security."

He vowed to take on "the Washington machine by not giving into special interests, which he said seek to fill their personal piggybanks to the disadvantage of the American public.

"Too often when Republicans have won, weve squandered our victory by becoming part of the Washington machine," Paul said. "Thats not who I am."

"We must not dilute our message or give up on our principles. If we nominate a candidate who is simply Democrat-lite, what is the point?" Paul later asked the audience rhetorically, in presenting himself as a principled leader.

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Rand Paul Makes 2016 White House Bid Official: 'I Am ...