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Provided by AFP Rand Paul, a conservative libertarian and precursor of the Tea Party branch of his party, is likely to become the second major Republican to join the 2016 presidential race when he announces his candidacy on Tuesday

Rand Paul, a conservative libertarian and precursor of the Tea Party branch of his party, will become the second major Republican to join the 2016 presidential race when he announces his candidacy on Tuesday.

Rand has summoned supporters and reporters to a speech at 1600 GMT in Louisville, Kentucky, where he has served as senator since January 2011.

Paul will follow Texan Ted Cruz, who launched his candidacy two weeks ago with an appeal to the religious right, among others.

Jeb Bush, brother of former president George W. Bush, leads in opinion polls for the primary elections, although he has yet to announce his candidacy officially.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton has a team and campaign machine in place, suggesting she will announce in the coming weeks.

In recent days Rand Paul's team has left little doubt as to his presidential ambitions. A video released recently and hinting at a campaign slogan said "One leader will stand up to defeat the Washington machine and unleash the American dream."

It was by defying the Republican "establishment" that Paul, now 52, launched his political career in 2009. This was at the start of the anti-tax and small-government movement that would come to exercise a powerful influence within the Republican Party and come to be known as the Tea Party.

And it is by billing himself as a different kind of Republican leader that Paul will look both to rally ultra-conservatives during the primaries and then broaden the base of his party among young people, independents and minorities. It will be a true high wire act.

His father Ron Paul was a "libertarian" candidate for the presidency -- conservative on economic issues but liberal on social issues.

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Rand Paul to become second Republican to enter US presidential race