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Today were publishing my Make or Break piece on Rand Paul, a story that identifies a key characteristic his libertarianish philosophy that can distinguish him from the pack of GOP candidates but potentially put a ceiling on his support. I hope this story gives you a better idea of where RP is coming from (literally I went to Lake Jackson, Tex., where he grew up).

This was not the easiest story Ive ever done, in part because the senator didnt talk to me, but I did speak with his mother, older brother, younger sister, high school math teacher, childhood friend, medical residency friend, a Texas political operative who worked for his dad, several of his closest friends in Kentucky, and several close advisers. I want to thank all of them for being generous with their time and sharing their thoughts with the readers of The Washington Post. Special thanks to Mark Monical for giving me a terrific tour of Lake Jackson.

[Journalism digression: Yeah, I probably could have written a story about four times longer than this one, given all my reporting. But this is pretty long as it is, and they dont pay us to dump everything from my notebook into the text. Sometimes not always, but sometimes a reporter should be a filter. The goal is to say, this is the essence of the issue. This is what matters most. A shorter story is value-added in a time-stressed media universe. Minimalism will cost you extra.]

I was with Sen. Paul this week at his announcement in Louisville and then at the first official campaign stop, in Milford, N.H. the latter a classic New England town that is postcard-perfect for anyone campaigning for the presidency. [In fact, now that I think about it, I wrote that exact story many years ago lets paste some of it in, down below, at the *.]

This is a person steeped in a philosophy, but a man determined to expand the reach of the Republican Party and create a new kind of coalition. The Rand Paul camp believes that the Republican Party cant win by doubling-down on whatever its been doing the past several decades. The votes arent there.

Can Rand win? Its a longshot, according to the pundits and political prognosticators, including Nate Cohn in todaysNew York Times. But I agree with those who say that its not all about the W. Rand Paul has other metrics for success and is potentially playing a long game here. Hes only 52. Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves (its only April 2015!), but one could imagine that a more mainstream Republican nominee might consider him as a running mate. Even a prominent speaking role at the next Republican convention would propel Rand Paul to a level his father didnt enjoy.

Heres the top of the story:

By Joel Achenbach

Here we go again with presidential politics in the Live Free or Die state, with a man named Dr. Paul making his pitch in this historic town hall across from a vintage gazebo. Theres hardly a place in America more receptive to Dr. Pauls libertarian message, which drew big crowds in the 2008 and 2012 campaigns. But this time its a different Dr. Paul not 79-year-old libertarian hero Ron but his crafty, ambitious son Rand.

Do we have any lovers of liberty in here? the 52-year-old freshman senator from Kentucky asked Wednesday as he took the stage, and the Stand with Rand supporters standing all around him cheered affirmatively.

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Achenbach: How to write a political profile of Rand Paul when Rand Paul wont talk to you