Rand Paul sells Kentucky GOP on presidential caucus
Source: Washington Post
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) avoided a major headache Saturday after Kentucky Republican Party approved a rule change that would allow him to run for president while seeking reelection to his Senate seat.
"I applaud the Republican Party of Kentucky on their decision to hold a caucus in the upcoming Republican presidential cycle," Paul said in a statement. "The people of Kentucky deserve a voice as the GOP chooses their next nominee, and holding a caucus will ensure that Kentucky is relevant and participates early in the process."
The party's central committee approved Kentucky's first-ever presidential caucus for March 5, 2016. The vote was 111 to 36, a stronger showing than expected, after a drama that took most of the day -- ending just 20 minutes before the meeting had to end. Two-third of the central committee were needed to approve the caucus.
Paul himself attended the vote at Frankfort, Kentucky's Capital Plaza, lobbying in person for the right to remain a 2016 candidate without further turmoil. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has endorsed his colleague's presidential bid, endorsed the caucus, and dispatched his state director to say so at the meeting.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/08/22/rand-paul-caucus-set-for-march/
If the Kentucky GOP had not agreed, then Rand Paul would have to drop out of the POTUS race Now Paul has to pay for the caucus when his fundraising has been weak.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)I am not surprised. Paul will never get the nomination and he may even lose his Senate seat.
SummerSnow
(12,608 posts)turbinetree
(24,632 posts)"If the Kentucky GOP had not agreed, then Rand Paul would have to drop out of the POTUS race Now Paul has to pay for the caucus when his fundraising has been weak."
So my left wing question is: why and how---------if the make-up is currently this in Kentucky, did they change the constitution of the state ........................
http://ballotpedia.org/Kentucky_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2014
http://ballotpedia.org/Kentucky_State_Senate_elections,_2014
How much does funding of a "caucus" cost------------because somewhere in the "fine print" the citizens will have to pay for the polls to be open for this said right wing republican hypocrite "caucus" instead of holding it in a primary, which is cheaper-----------------that's a fact
Do the taxpayers giving this hypocrite making a $174,000 a year to sit in the U.S. Senate agree to this -------------I object------------that's a waste of tax payers dollars and it maybe illegal ------------see how's shoe fit's now Paul on the proverbial foot with your libertarian values
Honk-----------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
NastyRiffraff
(12,448 posts)It certainly won't be cheap. What I don't understand is why the KY Republican party shot themselves in the foot so badly. There is absolutely zero good they're going to get out of this. Here's a big secret (not!): Rand Paul will not win the Republican nomination for President. However, he's spending time and money going around the country running for president instead of trying to hold on to his senate seat in KY. There's absolutely no guarantee that Paul will keep that seat, especially if he doesn't bother campaigning for it. There's no discernable benefit for the KY GOP here; the only beneficiary is Rand Paul.
But say the (almost) impossible happens: Rand Paul wins the Republican nomination. Psst: he won't but let's go into fantasyland for a moment. His name can't be on the ballot twice in the general election. (Not in the KY primary either, which is why he badly wanted this terrible decision from KY Republicans.) So he's on the ballot in this extremely unlikely scenario as President. So, what about the senate seat? Who's on the ballot for it?
The KY GOP have painted themselves into a corner and it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch.
former9thward
(31,806 posts)Joe Biden's name was on the ballot twice in 2008 when he ran for VP and Delaware Senator at the same time.
Retrograde
(10,073 posts)Delaware and Conn. (Lieberman did the same back in 2000) allow people to run for multiple offices; Kentucky doesn't.
former9thward
(31,806 posts)In voting to hold a party caucus separate from the traditional state primary, the state Republican central committee will allow Paul to technically avoid violating a state law that prohibits a candidate from running for two offices in one election.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-rand-paul-senate-20150822-story.html
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Even under this fix, Rand Paul can not be on the general election ballot twice and so if he is the nominee for POTUS, the GOP will have to get a new Senate candidate.
LBJ, Lloyd Bentsen and others in Texas had a special law that allowed one to be on the ballot twice. Kentucky does not have that law
former9thward
(31,806 posts)Because of the caucus he can be a candidate in the primary but if wins the Republication nomination for president he can't be the ballot for both.
former9thward
(31,806 posts)Because in a caucus there are not "polling places". People can meet in homes, churches, businesses, etc. Most, if not all, donated space. There are some costs but nowhere near a primary election and the taxpayers don't pay anything.
turbinetree
(24,632 posts)premise------------------its costs the taxpayers money and they are going to pay for this one way or the other and this libertarian right wing republican hypocrite---------goes around and speaks like snake oil salesman on being fiscally conservative, and his little bunch of right wing hypocrites attacking everyone in the state blame the state for its problems, gutting and cutting programs ----------------right.
ericson00
(2,707 posts)because otherwise, Paul plays spolier against Trump.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Money talks
riversedge
(69,731 posts)that he would have to.
irisblue
(32,829 posts)as Skinner has said; and his spawn Rand as I say
Adenoid_Hynkel
(14,093 posts)His entire term has been an audition for national money and attention.
His constituent services are infamously nonexistant.
rladdi
(581 posts)Republican win. I hope the voters defeat him for Senate and for President. He is not worthy or competent to be either. This campaign staff is charged with criminal offenses. Just another Republican that is criminal like Scott of FLA and those sex abuser law makers in the states. The GOP strives on felons and criminals to be elected
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)The more time that Rand spends in Iowa and New Hampshire, the better chance that the democrats will have of taking this seat. Rand Paul is not that popular and may piss off people with this caucus stunt