Mediaboss Marketing

Sen. Rand Pauls presidential campaign limped into August under the weight of poor fundraising and sapped staff morale.

Then the indictments last week of two longtime Paul advisers sent shock waves through the Kentucky Republicans orbit.

Story Continued Below

And, last Thursday, Paul was widely seen as falling short in the first GOP presidential debate before a huge television audience.

Now the bad news: Pauls woeful month could get even worse.

Paul has been furiously lobbying Kentucky Republican leaders ahead of an Aug. 22 decision to rewrite party rules so he can run for president and reelection to his Senate seat simultaneously, a hedge to hold onto power should his Oval Office aspirations falter. Running for the two offices at once creates tricky legal hurdles that are surmountable only with the assent of the Kentucky Republican Partys leadership and central committee.

Though that approval once seemed assured, several members of the party executive committee told POLITICO theyre seeing increasing trepidation, in part because of Pauls perceived fade from contention but also because he hasnt yet fulfilled promises to cover the cost of any changes.

I think its fair to say that among members of this committee that theyre always aware of the financial impact of anything new on the organization that they serve, said state GOP chairman Steve Robertson. I think its pretty fair to say that members of the committee think this thing could be anywhere from $400,000 to $600,000. Thats obviously something that weighs appropriately on the minds of the folks on the committee.

Others were blunter.

There should be no direct cost to the party, said Scott Lasley, a state executive committee member who chaired the party committee that drafted the plan Paul favors. If the money is not there then I think all bets are off.

Original post:
Rand Paul 2016: Senator faces emerging doubts at home ...