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Kentucky Senator Rand Paul became the second major Republican presidential contender to enter the 2016 primary race when he announced his candidacy Tuesday in Louisville.

I have a message, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words. We have come to take our country back! Paul said to a rousing reception.

Paul hopes to build on his support among libertarian and Tea Party activists to become a force in what promises to be a lengthy and potentially divisive battle for the Republican Partys presidential nomination next year.

We need to boldly proclaim our vision for America, he said. We need to go boldly forth under the banner of liberty that clutches the Constitution in one hand and the Bill of Rights in the other.

Paul is a first-term senator who was elected in 2010 with Tea Party support, and who has blazed his own trail in the Senate ever since. He solidified a national following during a 2013 Senate filibuster with a nearly 13-hour speech critical of the Obama administrations use of drones to target suspected terrorists abroad.

Domestic priorities

Pauls plans to cut taxes, reduce the size of government and emphasize personal liberty should play well with Tea Party supporters looking for a candidate in the large Republican field.

Remember that the roots of the Tea Party are economic conservatism, not social conservatism, said Republican strategist Phillip Stutts, who once worked for Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. It is about less government. It is about cutting taxes. It is about getting sick and tired of [bank] bailouts.

Paul also has reached out to minority voters and spoken at historically black colleges, another tact that sets him apart from the Republican field. He also favors liberalizing laws regarding marijuana.

Foreign policy views

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Republican Rand Paul Launches Presidential Campaign