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EDMONTON After responding to an audience question about Medicare reform and calling for "tough love," Rand Paul laughed at the suggestion that he better "be ready to duck."

Heeding a recent lesson from another potential 2016 presidential contender former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Paul gripped the sides of the podium and moved his head and shoulders from side to side. "You notice I'm pretty agile," Paul said to laughs. "I'm looking for shoes."

While Clinton quite literally dodged a shoe thrown at her earlier this month, Paul has in recent weeks seen a metaphorical Payless showroom thrown at him as critics to his right and left step up their attacks, both putting Paul in the hot seat and erasing any remaining doubt about whether Kentucky's junior senator is a serious candidate for 2016.

After a string of positive news and a rocket ride to front-runner status at least seven months and probably longer before he would make any kind of official announcement, Paul has in the last few weeks felt the harsh lights of the spotlight that come with his preseason number one ranking.

Reporters' inboxes are increasingly filled with press releases targeting Paul's record and remarks from Democratic groups, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC), a video tracker from the pro-Clinton group American Bridge films his events when he does swings through the state, and hawkish establishment Republicans have launched an all-out media blitz to damage Paul as foreign policy has retaken a top spot in the national dialogue.

Paul also has to be considered one of the losers of this year's legislative session in Kentucky, going 0-2 on issues important to him. His push to restore felon voter rights came up short, and legislation that would clarify existing law that prevents a candidate from running on the same ballot twice passed the state Senate but died in the House. Given Democratic control of the lower chamber, the latter was not a surprise, and allies of Paul's thought from the beginning that even introducing legislation would help them clarify their legal options and give them a chance to find out who is and who is not on Paul's side.

Standing in the sun outside the Metcalfe County Courthouse last week, his eyes covered by shield-style sunglasses, Paul smiled when asked about his ever-growing chorus of critics.

"I think if you're showing signs of popularity or success, those who would like to replace you with someone else will go after you," Paul told the Herald-Leader. "So I think maybe it's a sign of success to have more detractors."

Paul is unquestionably at a tense juncture as he considers a run for the White House, insisting that he is still undecided but closing his remarks at the Burkesville Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday by saying he wants "to be a part of changing who's running the country, and hopefully we can get started on a better path again."

Good start to 2014

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Rand Paul facing more intense criticism from right and left which he says is 'a sign of success'