There is no announcement in the immediate future, but allies and advisers of Sen. Rand Paul huddled Wednesday in Washington, D.C., at a much-ballyhooed gathering to hash out strategy ahead of a possible presidential bid in 2016 for the Kentucky Republican.
The day of meetings focused on “fundraising performance, grassroots engagement, communications, outreach and other areas of interest,” a Paul spokesman said.
Doug Stafford, the executive director of Mr. Paul’s political action committee, RAND PAC, led various sessions on what’s been accomplished over the last year and what next year will look like.
Mr. Paul, who has openly said he’s considering a run for the White House, has made multiple trips to early presidential primary states and has been one of the most outspoken members of the Republican party in calling for the GOP to reach out to groups like blacks and young people to expand and grow its ranks.
Mr. Paul attended most of the meetings, including a group dinner in the evening, and while a decision on a presidential run won’t happen until the spring, Mr. Paul “made clear he will be running for re-election to the U.S. Senate,” according to the spokesman.
That last detail is key; while Republicans had an overwhelmingly successful election performance this year, Democrats managed to hang onto the statehouse in Kentucky, which means a state law precluding him from appearing multiple times on one ballot is likely to remain intact.
A few work-arounds to the law have been broached. The Wall Street Journal said the state party could turn its nominating contest into a caucus, or Mr. Paul could decline to participate altogether in the state’s presidential primary.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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