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Differences are emerging between Sens. Ted Cruz (L) and Rand Paul

FORT WORTH, TexasRepublican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas have appeared, at times, almost inseparablestanding together in filibusters, backing each others bills, weathering an attack from GOP Sen. John McCain, who called them wacko birds.

Now, as they prepare to run for the White House in 2016, Paul and Cruz are competing with each other in the deep pool of presidential politics, and differences are beginning to emerge.

A notable split came this week when, amid a multistate outbreak of measles, Paul said he believed most vaccinations should be voluntary and suggested that some may pose medical risks. Cruz joined most other GOP lawmakers and leaders in insisting that vaccines are safe and in endorsing state vaccination requirements.

Still, given their many similarities, the two senators are finding themselves fishing from the same pond of supporters.

In Texas, Paul hauled in a big one last week when the chairman of Cruzs home state GOP, Steve Munisteri, announced he was going to step down from his post and become a senior adviser to Paul.

An expanded version of this story is available at WSJ.com.

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The Wall Street Journal: Paul and Cruz go from friends to friendly competitors