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Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul sits down for an interview alongside Utah Sen. Mike Lee following a fundraiser event at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 17, 2014.

Matt Gade, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY Fresh from besting a crowd of potential candidates for president in a national poll, Rand Paul says he wants to grow the Republican Party big enough to win presidential elections again whether he runs or not.

"We need to welcome new members. We need more African-American members, more Hispanic members, more Jewish-American members, more Asian-American members," the Kentucky senator said in an interview Monday.

Paul spent the weekend snowboarding with his family in Park City and attended a fundraising breakfast for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, at the Alta Club.

On Sunday, Paul did something that his father, Ron Paul, never did: top a list of possible GOP presidential candidates in a national poll.

A new CNN/ORC International survey showed 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP say they would likely support Paul for the 2016 nomination.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Mitt Romney's 2014 running mate, garnered 15 percent, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry had 11 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the one other potential candidate to reach double digits in the poll that included Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

"I dont know if it's good luck or bad luck. It's still pretty early and I think it's better than not showing up in the poll," Paul said. He's not sure the showing makes any difference now but said it gives him the chance to talk about changing the party.

Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, agrees the GOP needs to reshape its message, noting Romney lost in 2012 primarily on social issues that attract women, minority and young voters.

Originally posted here:

Rand Paul talks 2016 presidential race during Utah trip

Rand Paul discusses future of Republican Party during Utah trip

By Dennis Romboy

March 17th, 2014 @ 6:27pm

SALT LAKE CITY Fresh from besting a crowd of potential candidates for president in a national poll, Rand Paul says he wants to grow the Republican Party big enough to win presidential elections again whether he runs or not.

"We need to welcome new members. We need more African-American members, more Hispanic members, more Jewish-American members, more Asian-American members," the Kentucky senator said in an interview Monday.

Paul spent the weekend snowboarding with his family in Park City and attended a fundraising breakfast for Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, at the Alta Club.

On Sunday, Paul did something that his father, Ron Paul, never did: top a list of possible GOP presidential candidates in a national poll.

A new CNN/ORC International survey showed 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP say they would likely support Paul for the 2016 nomination.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Mitt Romney's 2014 running mate, garnered 15 percent, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry had 11 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the one other potential candidate to reach double digits in the poll that included Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

"I dont know if it's good luck or bad luck. It's still pretty early and I think it's better than not showing up in the poll," Paul said. He's not sure the showing makes any difference now but said it gives him the chance to talk about changing the party.

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Rand Paul discusses future of Republican Party during Utah trip

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mike Lee attends a Tea Party Express event Wednesday at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Politics Rand Paul predicts no infighting among the conservative senators.

Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio went to the Senate as young tea-party upstarts. Now three of the four are eyeing bids for the White House and political observers are predicting some brutal infighting. But Paul said Monday he doesnt anticipate that will cause problems among the group.

"I think it shakes out over time," said the Kentucky senator who, according to a new national poll last week is the Republican presidential frontrunner, albeit still more than 30 months from the next presidential election.

"I dont know if thats good luck or bad luck at this point," Paul said in an interview. "Its better than not being noticed, I guess."

Paul was in Salt Lake City to help Lee raise money for his Senate re-election bid in 2016. And he and his family also took some time to do some snowboarding.

Lee said for now none of his three colleagues have said theyre running, so hes staying neutral.

"Im a huge fan of Rand Paul and a huge fan of the other two, as well," said Lee. "Well see what happens."

"But dont be thinking we wont be trying to twist his arm," said Paul.

Cruz was in Salt Lake City in September, just before the federal government shutdown, raising money for Lee.

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Will White House ambitions fracture tea party?

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Mike Lee attends a Tea Party Express event Wednesday at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Politics Rand Paul predicts no infighting among the conservative senators.

Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio went to the Senate as young tea-party upstarts. Now three of the four are eyeing bids for the White House and political observers are predicting some brutal infighting. But Paul said Monday he doesnt anticipate that will cause problems among the group.

"I think it shakes out over time," said the Kentucky senator who, according to a new national poll last week is the Republican presidential frontrunner, albeit still more than 30 months from the next presidential election.

"I dont know if thats good luck or bad luck at this point," Paul said in an interview. "Its better than not being noticed, I guess."

Paul was in Salt Lake City to help Lee raise money for his Senate re-election bid in 2016. And he and his family also took some time to do some snowboarding.

Lee said for now none of his three colleagues have said theyre running, so hes staying neutral.

"Im a huge fan of Rand Paul and a huge fan of the other two, as well," said Lee. "Well see what happens."

"But dont be thinking we wont be trying to twist his arm," said Paul.

Cruz was in Salt Lake City in September, just before the federal government shutdown, raising money for Lee.

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Will White House ambitions fracture the Senates tea-party caucus?

Libertarian-minded Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is edging up in what looks like a wide-open contest for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

A second national poll of the past three weeks puts Paul narrowly ahead, with scandal-plagued New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie fading.The same poll, by CNN/Opinion Research International, puts Hillary Clinton far ahead among Democrats and gives her positive numbers on strong leadership and potential to manage a crisis.

CNN/ORC put Rand Paul at 16 percent, a number higher than his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, reached in his 2012 bid for the GOP nomination.Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, 12 GOP vice presidential nominee, is a tick behind at 15 percent.

Hillary Clinton: She dominates 2016 Democratic field.

Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, who stumbled over his own tongue in the 2012 race, runs third at 11 percent.Perry was a hit at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.

CPAC is an annual cattle call for Republicans with hopes or dreams of the White House.Rand Paul was a runaway winner in its straw poll of GOP hopefuls.

According to CNN/ORC, ex-Secretary of State Clinton is the choice of 63 percent of Democratic voters, far ahead of Vice President Joe Biden at 13 percent.

She scores higher than President Obama on certain traits desired of a president. A total of 64 percent agreed that Clinton was tough enough to lead in a crisis, versus 53 percent for Obama. An equal 64 percent agreed that she would be a strong leader.Just 50 percent said the same of Obama.

The CNN/ORC poll was conducted March 7-9, and involved interviews with 367 Republican voters and 372 Democratic voters.

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Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul emerges in GOP presidential field