WASHINGTON – Repeat after me: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is not going to decide on running for president until after the November mid-term election.
OK, and now read this: The chairman of the Iowa Republican Party, A.J. Spiker, is signing on as a political adviser to Paul’s political action committee, RANDPAC. Yes, the senator is recruiting from the first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa.
Paul has said he is considering a White House bid, but wants to wait on a decision until after this year’s election.
But the Kentuckian continues to generate buzz: he notched his second consecutive victory over the weekend in The Washington Times/Conservative Political Action Conference Straw Poll, taking 31 percent to second-place finisher Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s 11 percent.
Spiker served as co-chairman of the 2012 Iowa presidential campaign of Paul’s father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
Spiker will step down from his post as Iowa GOP chairman when a new one is chosen at the end of the month.
Doug Stafford, RANDPAC’s executive director, said in a statement Monday: “We are pleased that A. J. will be joining us, his experience in Iowa and across the nation will be vital. His ability to work with the grassroots is unmatched and we welcome him to the team.”
In his own statement, Spiker said: “There is no better champion for liberty lovers then Senator Rand Paul. I look forward to working with the team, together we can make a difference. I am eager to hit the ground running.”
Des Moines Register political reporter Jennifer Jacobs noted in a story that “Spiker has faced criticism from fellow Republicans from various factions for several reasons, including lackluster fundraising, clashes with Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, a controversy over the state convention scheduling that some critics thought gave Democratic candidates an advantage, and other problems.”
But Jacobs said Spiker also has “defended himself vigorously, noting he has worked hard to preserve Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status in the presidential voting lineup and that he has reached out to all factions of the GOP in Iowa.”
In its press release Saturday night, the Iowa GOP said “Spiker leaves the Republican Party of Iowa with more than $300,000 cash on hand, zero debt and with a voter registration advantage for Republicans over the Iowa Democratic Party.”
Republicans loyal to Ron Paul largely ran the Iowa GOP starting in 2012. But the party recently has seen more mainstream Republicans seeking to reassert their influence. Pro-Branstad forces appeared to be in the ascendancy Saturday as people friendly to him dominated state GOP convention delegate elections.
Sen. Paul was a guest on “Fox News Sunday,” where anchor Chris Wallace asked him, “Is it fair to say that when it comes to at least pursuing the possibility of running for president in 2016 that it’s full speed ahead for you, sir?”
Paul answered: “You know, we’re definitely talking about it. My family is talking about it. We do the things that would be necessary to make sure that it can happen and will work, but I truly haven’t made my mind up and won’t make my mind up until after the 2014 elections, but, you know, I haven’t been shy about saying that we are thinking about it. I think that the message that I’m trying to promote, whether I do it (run for president) or not, of bringing our message to minority voters, to people who have been persecuted throughout history, to young people who feel like the government has grown too big, I think it’s a message that can grow the party, and the party has to grow bigger or we’re not going to win again.”
