Rand Paul Jumps In With A Splash

Rand Paul, a doctor practicing Opthamology in Owensboro Kentucky, has formed his exploratory committee to continue his conversation about a possible run for the United States Senate seat currently held by two term incumbent Senator Jim Bunning.  Rand is the son of former presidential candidate, Ron Paul.

Rand Paul's entry onto the field changes the complexion of things quite dramatically.  First, he hit the ground running with an announcement on the Rachel Maddow program on MSNBC, and the immediate launch of a professional website.  And don't forget, it was via the web that his father raised a record breaking sum of money for his presidential bid in just a matter of days.

Judging by my email box this morning Paul has inspired a whole bunch of Internet savvy folks to get busy spreading the word that Rand Paul is

"well grounded in the principles of the founding fathers and limited constitutional government and he can be expected to follow in the excellent example of his father, Ron Paul, who has well earned the title "Champion of the Constitution".

Paul has stated categorically that he will not run against Senator Jim Bunning, a position taken by the only other republican to form an exploratory committee, Trey Grayson.  However, many have reported that Grayson's father, a significant financial force, is telling things quite differently, saying that despite what Trey has said, he is in the race, Bunning or not.

Paul's entry could spell trouble for Grayson not only in terms of fundraising but in the area of the messaging part of the game as well.  Paul's appeal will be the the conservative soul of the republican party, and will likely remind republican voters that Grayson has been reported to be "politically ...  on the same side of every issue" with democratic candidate Jack Conway.

While both Paul and Grayson have said they will not run against Jim Bunning, and Senator Bunning has said he is going to remain in the race, most observers know that Senator Bunning is the most likely candidate to win any matchup in a primary, and the strongest candidate to raise the kind of money required to win the November race against a member of the Obama ticket in Kentucky.

But in Kentucky where horse racing is such a popular sport, the addition of Rand Paul to the field, particularly considering that he may be talking more harshly about Grayson than Bunning,  could make for a rather interesting summer.

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[Mark Messer]

Correction: Dr. Rand Paul is a physician in Bowling Green Kentucky.