Paul to plunge into N.C. Senate race
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is making an 11th hour plunge into the North Carolina Senate race, aiming to boost his preferred candidate and block the GOP establishments favorite, state House Speaker Thom Tillis, from scoring a clean win in Tuesdays primary.
The Kentucky Republican and potential presidential candidate said in an interview that he will stump on Monday for Republican Greg Brannon, a libertarian-minded candidate who is trying to ride a tea party wave into a runoff against Tillis, who is backed by the party establishment and is reportedly expected to receive the endorsement of Jeb Bush. Tillis is looking to avoid a runoff in North Carolina and quickly unite the party in the critical Senate race against Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.
Tillis needs to eclipse 40 percent in the primary to win outright, and several recent polls have him on the cusp, making Pauls move potentially a consequential one. If Tillis falls short, he would face a two-month runoff, draining his resources ahead of the general election.
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Paul endorsed Brannon in October, but Brannon has hit a rough patch with legal problems in recent months and the senator hadnt put his muscle behind the fellow physician since. Until now.
I have decided today Im going Monday to campaign for Greg Brannon in North Carolina, Paul said in the Capitol Wednesday. I think its pretty close there actually, and theres a chance we can help him enough to push him over the top.
BIG NEWS! Brannon later tweeted to promote the Charlotte rally with Paul.
The move by Paul is the latest effort by 2016 presidential hopefuls to exert themselves in 2014 primary races at a time when intra-party wars could jeopardize a prime GOP opportunity to retake the Senate. Most of the presumed 2016 candidates are either staying out of primary fights or taking a far more measured approach, calculating the risks of putting their name behind a candidate who could catch fire or implode.
(PHOTOS: 10 tough Senate races for Democrats)
But stumping alongside midterm candidates also gives them an opportunity to build ties with Senate hopefuls, their fervent supporters and big-dollar donors.
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Paul to plunge into N.C. Senate race