Sen. Rand Paul appeared to be spoiling for a fight with 2016 GOP front-runner Donald Trump on Wednesday at the Republican presidential debate in California, saying he’s more than happy to take on the billionaire businessman and dismissing Mr. Trump’s past insults as “sophomoric,” “silly,” and “junior high diatribes.”
“I really think what we’re seeing from him is sophomoric — sort of these junior high diatribes at other candidates,” Mr. Paul said on CNN. “In fact, I think they’re silly. I just don’t see anything serious about what he’s proposing, and when he says Mexicans will pay for the wall and then he says he’s going to be tough and he’s so smart because he’s so rich, I don’t think they always equate with each other.
“I think if he wants to prove to us that he’s so smart, it’s not because he’s rich, it’s because, what are the proposals that he has?” he said. “What are the proposals that he has for America? And I’m more than happy to go ’mano e mano.’ … Let’s have a debate.”
Mr. Paul predicted Mr. Trump would try to give it right back if attacked.
“He’ll probably say something he doesn’t like about my physical appearance, and I think ultimately that’s going to fall flat,” Mr. Paul said.
Since entering the race, Mr. Trump has held his hand to his chest and said: “Rand, I’ve had you up to here.” He has also made fun of Mr. Paul’s golf game.
Mr. Paul said he wouldn’t be excited about voting for Mr. Trump and predicted that if Mr. Trump ended up as the party’s nominee, the GOP would suffer its biggest loss since the 1964 contest between former President Lyndon B. Johnson and Republican Barry Goldwater.
“But I’ve said I will support the nominee,” Mr. Paul said, though he added that he’s going to do everything possible within his power over the next six months to make sure Mr. Trump is not the GOP nominee.
“I think it’d be a disaster for the country,” he said.
Mr. Paul pledged to send Mr. Trump “a not-so-subtle signal that we’re coming to compete.”
“To compete for the presidency means you have to discuss ideas, and I think it won’t be enough to say people are stupid or ’look at that face,’ that kind of stuff,” he said. “I think that’s sophomoric, and I think ultimately the American people, they will want to hear about issues and they will want to know ’is Donald Trump a conservative?’ and on a host of issues he’s never been a conservative.”
Mr. Paul’s “face” comment was a reference to a recent Rolling Stone article that quoted Mr. Trump as commenting on GOP rival Carly Fiorina’s face. Mr. Trump said later he was referring to Mrs. Fiorina’s persona.
Mr. Paul predicted Mr. Trump would try to give it right back if attacked.
“He’ll probably say something he doesn’t like about my physical appearance, and I think ultimately that’s going to fall flat,” Mr. Paul said.
Since entering the race, Mr. Trump has held his hand to his chest and said: “Rand, I’ve had you up to here.” He has also made fun of Mr. Paul’s golf game.
Mr. Paul said people are ultimately going to ask candidates what they would do as president.
“I just don’t think conservatives, once they hear that he’s for higher taxes, Obamacare, you know, using eminent domain — they’re going to cringe at that,” he said. “But I don’t think enough people yet know what he stands for.”
For his part, Mr. Trump said in a new interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that he would try to “tone it down” a little bit.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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