Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul on Thursday blamed rival Donald Trump’s rise in popularity on a temporary “loss of sanity.”
Appearing on CNN’s “The Situation Room,” the Kentucky senator was asked to comment on a new national poll showing Mr. Trump still ahead in the GOP field.
“I think this is a temporary sort of loss of sanity, but we’re going to come back to our senses and look for someone serious to lead the country at some point,” Mr. Paul told host Wolf Blitzer.
“Television works, Wolf,” he said. “If you would give some other candidates time from 8 in the morning to 8 at night, all day long, every day for three weeks, I’m guessing some other candidates might rise as well.”
Mr. Trump drew 20 percent support in a Quinnipiac poll released Thursday, ahead of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Jeb Bush, while Mr. Paul tied with several candidates for fourth place at 6 percent, The Hill reported.
“I think what they are is they’re hungry for someone who will tell them the truth and say Washington is broken and we really have to start over, have term limits, wash the place,” Mr. Paul said of Mr. Trump’s supporters.
“But we also have to have a serious discussion about how we’re going to do it,” he added.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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