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Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is the latest potential presidential candidate to weigh in on policy changes to Cuba and the libertarian leaning Republican's position splits from other Republicans who are also considering a presidential run.

Paul told Tom Roten of News Talk 800 in West Virginia that the 50-year embargo "just hasn't worked" and normalizing relations with the island nation is "probably a good idea."

"If the goal is regime change, it sure doesn't seem to be working and probably it punishes the people more than the regime because the regime can blame the embargo for hardship," he said.

Potential challengers, Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio, both of Florida, denounced President Barack Obama's decision to open diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas also slammed the deal.

Bush called it a "misstep" that "undermines America's credibility and undermines the quest for a free and democratic Cuba."

And Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, vowed to use his role as incoming chairman of a Foreign Relations subcommittee to block progress on policy.

"The White House has conceded everything," Rubio said, calling the policy "disgraceful."

Paul, who has often bumps heads with members of his party over foreign policy, expressed a similar position to another potential presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.

"Despite good intentions, our decades-long policy of isolation has only strengthened the Castro regime's grip on power," Clinton said in a statement. "As I have said, the best way to bring change to Cuba is to expose its people to the values, information, and material comforts of the outside world."

Leigh Ann Caldwell

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Rand Paul Breaks With Rubio and Bush Over Cuba

Rand Paul Writes Immigration Bill
The first official piece of legislation opposing President Obama #39;s executive action on Immigration hits the floor in Congress. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul proposed a new bill that would essentiall...

By: NextNewsNetwork

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Rand Paul Writes Immigration Bill - Video

Sen. Rand Paul Appears on Fox #39;s The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly - December 16, 2014

By: SenatorRandPaul

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Sen. Rand Paul Appears on Fox's The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly - December 16, 2014 - Video

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Sept. 17, 2014, file photo. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) more >

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, took a direct shot at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bushs support for Common Core educational standards Tuesday, shortly after Mr. Bush announced he was actively exploring a bid for the White House in 2016.

Maybe he has more ground he needs to gain. Hes been out of this for a while, so maybe he needs to get back in and practice up a bit. I dont know, Mr. Paul said on Fox News The Kelly File of the timing of Mr. Bushs announcement.

Mr. Paul said hes still a few more months away from an announcement of his own on a possible White House bid in 2016, and went on to say that Mr. Bushs support for the Common Core standards would make it difficult for him in a Republican primary.

You know, Ronald Reagan ran on the platform of getting rid of the Department of Education, Mr. Paul said in video flagged by Mediaite. Weve always believed in decentralized education. So for Jeb Bush to run in the primary will be very, very difficult because if youre going to be for a national curriculum and for Common Core and No Child Left Behind, this accumulation of power in Washington, thats not very popular.

Indeed, Mr. Bushs positions on education and immigration might not sit well with many GOP primary voters, who are typically the most ardent of party activists.

Speaking at a gathering last month of an educational foundation Mr. Bush founded after his tenure as Florida governor, he said he respected those who have weighed in on Common Core but that in his view, the rigor of the Common Core State Standards must be the new minimum in classrooms.

Mr. Bush is also a proponent of immigration reform and has said that many illegal immigrants come to the country out of an act of love for family members.

Time Magazine also noted that Mr. Pauls political action committee is already taking out Google search ads on Mr. Bushs name, including one that includes the text: We need leaders who will stand against common core.

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Rand Paul hits Jeb Bush over Common Core

Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentuckys secretary of State, is threatening to take Rand Paul to court to block him from running both for president and reelection to the Senate in 2016.

In her first television interview since Sen. Mitch McConnell routed her by 15 points last month, the Democratic Senate nominee declared that she will not be bullied by Paul, who is a heavy favorite to win a second Senate term if hes allowed to stay on the ballot.

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The law is clear, Grimes told WHAS-TV in Louisville. You cant be on the ballot twice for two offices.

Well look to the court for any guidance that is needed, she added. And at the end of the day, were not going to be bullied.

(Also on POLITICO: Rand Paul hits Jeb Bush on support for Common Core)

Grimes also told the Louisville ABC affiliate in the interview published on Wednesday that she has not decided whether to seek a second term as secretary of State in the 2015 election.

The 36-year-old left no doubt that she continues to harbor political ambitions beyond the Bluegrass States chief elections official. She would be a top Democratic recruit to run for Senate in 2016 if Paul bows out.

Grimes said she knows theres a bigger plan in store and pronounced herself excited for 2015. Shes also been talked about as a Democratic primary challenger to Attorney General Jack Conway in next years Kentucky governors race or against GOP Rep. Andy Barr in 2016.

Theres encouragement from all different directions, no shortage of opinions, thats for sure, she told the station. But no election should be run unless its in your heart and the facts are there to win, and thats what I will weigh and to make sure is there before I make any determination.

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Grimes: Rand can't run for president and Senate