A top aide to President Obama said Thursday that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is the most interesting Republican considering a 2016 run and could pose a threat to Democrats hoping to win the White House.
“The Republican I find most interesting is Rand Paul, and the reason I saw that is he is the only Republican who seems to know about what their long-term structural problems are and trying to do something about it,” Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, told Buzzfeed News Thursday, saying Mr. Paul can appeal to the next generation of voters.
Mr. Paul has gained attention for stepping away from the tradition conservative platform, advocating for lower sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, demilitarizing local police forces, and a less adventurous foreign policy.
“I think it’s a little bit of a warning sign to Democrats in the long run that demographics is not destiny,” Mr. Pfeiffer said. “And we actually have to do some things to maintain faith with the next generation.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.