NBC: Paul Dropping Senator from Twitter Account, ‘De-emphasizing His Place in’ D.C.

‘Rand Paul hopes a nine letter word will set him apart: Different’

GUTHRIE: “Kentucky Senator Rand Paul becoming the second Republican to officially join the 2016 presidential race. He has scheduled an event today in Louisville. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell is in position. Kelly, good morning to you.”
O’DONNELL: “Good morning, Savannah. Rand Paul hopes a nine-letter word will set him apart 'different.' When he announces here today Rand Paul is trying to position himself as a different kind of Republican in what will be a large field of GOP contenders. He is not so issues guy, he is not an establishment figure. He is trying to cut a different path.”
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O’DONNELL (voice-over): “Finishing touches late Monday, from pressing the stars and stripes to the big screen staging. Today from Rand Paul’s old Kentucky home, his presidential campaign begins with this movie-style trailer.”
PAUL: “It’s time for a new way, a new set of ideas, a new leader.”
O’DONNELL (voice-over): “The 52-year-old inherited his presidential ambitions and grass roots organization. Father Ron Paul ran three times. The 2010 Tea Party movement propelled him to the Senate.”
PAUL: “We have come to take our government back.”
O’DONNELL (voice-over): “And push his Republican Party beyond it’s comfort zone. Paul is libertarian. Against most foreign aid, wary of U.S. military intervention and use of drones, putting him at odds with GOP hocks."
GRAHAM: “I think everybody on our side except maybe Rand Paul could do better.”
PAUL: “I do think diplomacy is better than war, and we should give diplomacy a chance.”
O’DONNELL (voice-over): “Paul strategy courts younger voters and minority communities. Last year Paul who is an eye surgeon took cameras along to Guatemala when he performed free procedures. Paul becomes the second senator to formally announce the presidential run. First in the ring was Ted Cruz and next week Marco Rubio will launch his bid in Miami, Florida. With a broad field of hopefuls still considering their next moves." 
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O’DONNELL: “And in a campaign season, details matter. Rand Paul has dropped the word senator from his official twitter handle, sort of deemphasizing his place in Washington, making it easier for him to try to position himself as someone running as an outsider in a field that probably will have a Bush and Clinton.”

 

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