But most committee members said their vote was motivated not by Paul’s candidacy, but by a desire to make Kentucky a player in presidential politics. That way, Paul can run for president and re-election to his Senate seat at the same time without breaking a state law that bans candidates from appearing on the ballot twice in the same election. Kent Sorenson in exchange for his leaving the Michele Bachmann campaign to support Paul. But Kentucky GOP leaders have approved the use of a presidential caucus that would allow voters to cast a vote for Paul for president before the overall Republican primary election.
Advertisement
The earlier voting also comes with a $500,000 price-tag, which could be an issue for Kentucky Republicans, which claims to have less than $170,000 in cash on hand, the AP reported.
The result was that the Kentucky GOP’s decision makers arrived at the hotel to see around 50 of Paul’s supporters, some given T-shirts and posters by the campaign, cheering on the candidate. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) presidential ambitions. In March, Paul convinced all 54 members of the executive committee to appoint a study group that could vet the caucus proposal.
Paul’s team moved quickly to sooth nerves.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell endorsed the caucus publicly, but only because Paul angered some in the party when he failed to transfer $250,000 to the state party despite saying he had already done so in a letter to party officials. “I also pledge to you that I will raise or transfer in another $200,000 at a date agreed upon by my team and RPK”. Paul reportedly suggested that it could collect donations from voters at polling locations to fund the caucus.
A vote against switching to a caucus system likely would’ve prevented Paul from running for both offices in Kentucky.
The key Republicans were not entirely convinced.
Advertisement
At Paul’s request, the Republican Party of Kentucky’s 334-member central committee met Saturday to vote on the plan.
